Hypothesis-Driven Development from Coursera

To deliver agile outcomes, you have to do more than implement agile processes- you have to create focus around what matters to your user and constantly test your ideas. This is easier said than done, but most of today’s high-functioning innovators have a strong culture of experimentation.

In this course, you’ll learn how to identify the right questions at the right time, and pair them with the right methods to do just enough testing to make sure you minimize waste and maximize the outcomes you create with your user.

This course is supported by the Batten Institute at UVA’s Darden School of Business. The Batten Institute’s mission is to improve the world through entrepreneurship and innovation: www.batteninstitute.org.

What's inside

Syllabus

How Do We Know if We're Building for a User that Doesn't Exist?

How do you go from backlog grooming to blockbuster results with agile? Hypothesis-driven decisions. Specifically, you need to shift your teammates focus from their natural tendency to focus on their own output to focusing out user outcomes. Easier said than done, but getting everyone excited about results of an experiment is one of the most reliable ways to get there. This week, we’ll focus on how you get started in a practical way.

How Do We Reduce Waste & Increase Wins by Testing Our Propositions Before We Build Them?

Nothing will help a team deliver better outcomes like making sure they’re building something the user values. This might sound simple or obvious, but I think after this week it’s likely you’ll find opportunities to help improve your team’s focus by testing ideas more definitively before you invest in developing software. In this module, you’ll learn how to make concept testing an integral part of your product pipeline. We’ll continue to apply methods from Lean Startup, looking at how they pair with agile. We’ll look at how high-functioning teams design and run situation-appropriate experiments to test ideas, and how that works before the fact (when you’re testing an idea) and after the fact (when you’re testing the value of software you’ve released).

How Do We Consistently Deliver Great Usability?

The best products are tested for usability early and often, avoiding the destructive stress and uncertainty of a "big unveil." In this module, you’ll learn how to diagnose, design and execute phase-appropriate user testing. The tools you’ll learn to use here (a test plan template, prototyping tool, and test session infrastructure) are accessible/teachable to anyone on your team. And that’s a very good thing -- often products are released with poor usability because there "wasn’t enough time" to test it. With these techniques, you’ll be able to test early and often, reinforcing your culture of experimentation.

How Do We Invest to Move Fast?

You’ve learned how to test ideas and usability to reduce the amount of software your team needs to build and to focus its execution. Now you’re going to learn how high-functioning teams approach testing of the software itself. The practice of continuous delivery and the closely related Devops movement are changing the way we build and release software. It wasn’t that long ago where 2-3 releases a year was considered standard. Now, Amazon, for example, releases code every 11.6 seconds. This week, we’ll look at the delivery pipeline and step through what successful practitioners do at each stage and how you can diagnose and apply the practices that will improve your implementation of agile.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for teams and professionals looking to enhance agile practices with innovative approaches

Taught by experts from a reputable institution with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation

Focuses on practical methods for testing hypotheses and minimizing waste

Covers a wide range of topics, from identifying user needs to delivering software

Emphasizes usability testing and continuous delivery practices

Reviews summary

Positive learning experience

Learners say this course is a positive learning experience and very interesting. Students report that the content is helpful and they would recommend this course to all other learners interested in agile methodologies.

Students compliment the instructor, Mr. Alex

"Great job mr Alex!"

Course content is rated as helpful.

"very interesting and helpful experience"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Hypothesis-Driven Development with these activities:

Review 'Lean Startup' Concepts

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Review the core concepts of Lean Startup to refresh your memory and prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Lean Startup

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Read the Executive Summary and Chapter 1 of 'The Lean Startup'
Create a mind map summarizing the key concepts

Write a Product Hypothesis

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Develop a hypothesis statement that articulates your assumptions about your product concept.

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Identify the key elements of your product concept
State your hypothesis clearly and concisely
Define metrics to measure the success of your hypothesis

Design a Product Concept

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Apply Lean Startup principles to design a product concept that solves a real-world problem.

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Identify a problem worth solving
Brainstorm potential solutions
Sketch out a product concept
Test your concept with potential users

Six other activities

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User Interview Practice

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Practice conducting user interviews to gather feedback and insights on your product concept.

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Find a willing interviewee
Prepare open-ended questions
Conduct the interview
Analyze the interview results

Discuss Product Concept and Hypothesis

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Share your product concept and hypothesis with peers for feedback and discussion.

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Find a peer group or study buddy
Present your concept and hypothesis
Listen to feedback and ask questions

Read 'Design Sprint' by Jake Knapp

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Learn about the Design Sprint process to rapidly develop and test product ideas.

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Read through the book and take notes
Identify key takeaways and apply them to your current project

Contribute to an Agile Development Tool

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Contribute to open-source agile development tools to gain practical experience and deepen your understanding of the Agile process.

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Find an open-source agile development tool to contribute to
Identify an area where you can make a contribution
Submit a code change or feature request

Mentor Junior Agile Team Members

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Share your knowledge and experience with junior agile team members to help them develop their skills.

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Identify junior agile team members who need guidance
Set up regular mentoring sessions
Provide guidance and support on Agile practices and principles

Create a Study Guide

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Organize your notes, assignments, and other materials into a comprehensive study guide for future reference.

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Gather all relevant materials
Organize the materials into a logical structure
Review the materials and identify key concepts

Career center

Learners who complete Hypothesis-Driven Development will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

UX Designer

UX Designers are responsible for designing the user experience of products. They work closely with Product Managers and Engineers to create products that are easy to use and enjoyable. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides UX Designers with the skills and knowledge they need to design effective user experiences. The course covers topics such as user research, prototyping, and information architecture.

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UX Researcher

UX Researchers are responsible for understanding the needs of users and designing products that are easy to use and enjoyable. They use a variety of research methods, including user interviews, surveys, and A/B testing, to gather data about users' experiences with products. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides UX Researchers with the skills and knowledge they need to design and conduct effective user research studies. The course covers topics such as user research methods, data analysis, and prototyping.

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Agile Coach

Agile Coaches are responsible for helping organizations adopt agile practices. They work closely with teams to help them improve their agility and productivity. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Agile Coaches with the skills and knowledge they need to be effective Agile Coaches. The course covers topics such as agile principles, agile practices, and team coaching.

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Product Owner

Product Owners are responsible for defining the vision and roadmap for a product. They work closely with stakeholders to gather requirements, prioritize features, and track progress. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Product Owners with the skills and knowledge they need to be effective Product Owners. The course covers topics such as product vision, roadmapping, and stakeholder management.

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Scrum Master

Scrum Masters are responsible for facilitating agile development teams. They work closely with team members to help them adopt agile practices and improve their productivity. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Scrum Masters with the skills and knowledge they need to be effective Scrum Masters. The course covers topics such as agile principles, Scrum ceremonies, and team facilitation.

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DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers are responsible for bridging the gap between development and operations teams. They work closely with both teams to ensure that software is developed and deployed efficiently and reliably. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides DevOps Engineers with the skills and knowledge they need to be effective DevOps Engineers. The course covers topics such as continuous integration, continuous delivery, and infrastructure management.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. They work closely with Product Managers and UX Researchers to bring products to market that meet the needs of users. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Software Engineers with the skills and knowledge they need to build software that is reliable, efficient, and user-friendly. The course covers topics such as agile development, testing, and data analysis.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers are responsible for creating documentation for software products. They work closely with Engineers and Product Managers to create documentation that is clear, concise, and helpful. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Technical Writers with the skills and knowledge they need to be effective Technical Writers. The course covers topics such as documentation planning, writing, and editing.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help businesses make informed decisions. They use a variety of statistical and machine learning techniques to identify trends and patterns in data. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Data Scientists with the skills and knowledge they need to design and conduct effective data analysis studies. The course covers topics such as data collection, data analysis, and data visualization.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for understanding the needs of businesses and designing solutions that meet those needs. They work closely with stakeholders to gather requirements, analyze data, and develop recommendations. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Business Analysts with the skills and knowledge they need to design and conduct effective business analysis studies. The course covers topics such as requirements gathering, data analysis, and solution design.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help businesses make informed decisions. They work closely with stakeholders to identify data needs, develop data analysis plans, and present findings. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Data Analysts with the skills and knowledge they need to be effective Data Analysts. The course covers topics such as data collection, data analysis, and data visualization.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the success of a product throughout its lifecycle, from ideation to launch and beyond. They work closely with engineers, designers, and other stakeholders to bring products to market that meet the needs of users. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Product Managers with the skills and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about product development, based on data and evidence. The course covers topics such as user research, A/B testing, and data analysis. This course may be particularly useful for Product Managers who are looking to improve their skills in agile development and user-centered design.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They work closely with stakeholders to define project scope, develop project plans, and track project progress. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Project Managers with the skills and knowledge they need to manage projects effectively. The course covers topics such as project planning, project execution, and project closure.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts are responsible for testing software to ensure that it meets quality standards. They work closely with Engineers to identify and fix bugs. The Hypothesis-Driven Development course provides Quality Assurance Analysts with the skills and knowledge they need to be effective Quality Assurance Analysts. The course covers topics such as testing methods, bug tracking, and quality assurance processes.

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