the stage gate process(for problem solving or new product development), waterfall model or its variants are suffered from the following key challenges.
- all starts with an idea not a problem or an opportunity - idea for what ? for whom? what problem does it address?
- concept testing and validation happens late in the journey - situation gets worse when people suffers from confirmation bias
- it necessitates a business case well ahead of rudimentary investment and market validation
- an idea must qualify on certain params before gets further funding.
- the process is linear, once out it is out forever.
The model works for efficiency not for effectiveness. - An efficiency-maximising mindset is suitable only for continuous improvement or production not for innovation
The traditional approach of innovation has the following mistaken approaches:
- High utilisation of resources will improve performance
- Processing work in large batches improves the economics of the development process.
- Our development plan is great, we just need to stick to it.
- The sooner the project is started, the sooner will be finished.
- The more features we put into a product, the more customers will like it.
- We will be more successful if we get it right the first time.