Product Management

Knowing what you’re not: defining your design principles

Successful products and services are those with a definite point of view, those that avoid an identity crisis by knowing exactly what they’re not.

Government Digital Service (GDS) has garnered much praise for its transparent and reasoned approach to design.

And whilst smaller organisations may not need ten principles (like GDS), those with a distinctive approach to digital experiences are gaining competitive advantage.

Here’s a revealing case study, from a tech startup founded in 2011, that I think provides food for thought for any business creating new online services.

Hive: A startup culture in a corporate behemoth

The team at Hive have an interesting story to tell.

Iterating a new product in a nascent part of an old industry, doing this within an enormous organisation like British Gas, while maintaining an independent, startup culture.

There’s a lesson in there for anybody.

Here’s what I learnt about Hive by listening to Tom Guy, product and commercial director, at #canvasconf, organised by 383.

How DevOps is changing the business of IT consulting

DevOps is a new trend becoming popular among information technology professionals.

It is a method in software development that emphasizes the need for communication, integration, collaboration, automation, and the measurement of cooperative efforts among software developers and IT professionals.

It is also making waves in the business of IT consulting.

How Northern & Shell harnessed user data to build a single customer view

Northern & Shell is one of the UK’s biggest publishers, owning titles including the Daily Express, Daily Star, OK!, New! and Star.

Until May this year it also operated three TV stations: Channel 5, 5* and 5USA.

So at a time when publishers are struggling to adapt to the new digital world, it’s worth taking note of the way in which N&S is attempting to monetise the massive amount of user data it collects.