“Sprint” by Jake Knapp
"Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days" is a book written by Jake Knapp, a design partner at Google Ventures. The book is a resource for product managers who are looking for a practical and effective approach to solving big problems and testing new ideas quickly.
The book is based on a five-day process called a "design sprint." The design sprint is a focused, time-constrained process that helps teams identify key challenges, develop solutions, and test those solutions with real users in just five days. This design sprint process is crafted to help teams move quickly and efficiently, while also encouraging creativity and collaboration.
The book is divided into five sections, each corresponding to a day of the sprint. Day one is about understanding the problem and setting a goal for the sprint. Day two is about generating ideas and sketching solutions. Day three is about making decisions and creating a storyboard. Day four is about building a prototype. And day five is about testing the prototype with real users.
One of the key takeaways from the book is the importance of bringing together a cross-functional team to work on the sprint. The team should include people with different skills and perspectives, including designers, developers, product managers, and others. The authors argue that a diverse team can bring different ideas and approaches to the problem, leading to more creative and effective solutions.
The book provides advice and tools for each day of the sprint. For example, on day one, the team should create a "map" of the problem space, identifying key stakeholders, pain points, and opportunities. On day two, the team should use "crazy eights" – a rapid brainstorming exercise – to generate as many ideas as possible. And on day three, the team should use a "heat map" exercise to prioritize ideas and create a storyboard.
The book emphasizes testing and validation. The authors argue that testing is a critical part of the sprint process, and that teams should be testing their solutions with real users throughout the sprint. This allows teams to get feedback early and often, and to make adjustments to their solutions based on user feedback.
The book also provides guidance on how to facilitate the sprint process effectively. The authors suggest that the facilitator should be an impartial outsider who can help the team stay focused and on track. The facilitator should also encourage participation and collaboration, and ensure that the team is making decisions based on data and evidence, rather than personal opinions or biases.
"Sprint" is a resource for product managers who are looking for a practical and effective approach to solving big problems and testing new ideas quickly. By bringing together a cross-functional team, generating and testing ideas quickly, and making decisions based on data and evidence, product managers can create innovative and effective solutions that meet the needs of their users.