Research shows that most of what we build creates little or no value for our users and the business. To break away from this harsh reality, you need to adopt a different system, one that combines human judgment with evidence. Using evidence effectively flips the odds in our favor: it boosts outcomes and reduces waste; it improves decision-making, alignment, and empowerment, and reduces battles of opinion and politics. For these reasons, Evidence-guided Development is at the heart of every successful product company you know.
In this book, Itamar Gilad presents an actionable model to bring evidence-guided development into your organization. Combining tried-and-tested methods with tools created by the author, Evidence-Guided offers a systematic approach—the GIST model (Goals, Ideas, Steps, and Tasks)—to help you create high-impact products. You'll learn how to choose the right outcomes, prioritize ideas, build and learn at a fast pace, and collaborate more effectively with developers, managers, and stakeholders. The book provides principles, models, tools, and processes, all demonstrated through real-world examples and infused with nuance gained through years of practice.
The methods presented in this book can be used by individual contributors, team leads, and managers. They apply to companies of all sizes and life stages, developing for a variety of customer types. The first parts of the book will teach you the techniques, while the latter chapters will guide you through adapting the system for your particular type of company and through driving successful adoption.