Product Development
How did Erin create her course from start to finish?
Erin created her course over approximately seven months, though the focused work took about three months. Her process began with deciding on the course topic (helping content creators transition to entrepreneurship), followed by trademarking the course name "Creator to CEO" to protect the brand. Next, she outlined the entire course, organizing content into seven modules with specific lessons in each. She then hired a course designer who created slides, graphics, and handled the platform setup in Kajabi. For recording, Erin used a teleprompter, ring light, and Blue Yeti microphone, creating both visual presentations and module intros. The final steps included editing, uploading, copyright protection, and marketing.
Watch clip answer (11:44m)
Erin On Demand
04:58 - 16:43
What is the difference between a typical design process and an optimization process?
A typical design process involves reevaluating and making changes until you're satisfied, but it's not an optimization process. In optimization, we first formulate a specific problem with defined objectives and constraints. The computer then automatically evaluates these objectives, checks if optimality criteria have been met, and updates design variables accordingly. This automated process continues, potentially thousands of times, until optimality criteria are achieved, rather than stopping when the designer is satisfied or tired of making changes.
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BYU FLOW Lab
03:31 - 04:49
How does accessibility fit into product development strategy at Workday?
At Workday, accessibility is treated as a foundational element rather than an afterthought. As Katie Holden explains, the company integrates accessibility into the core of product development, similar to how they approach security and resiliency. This involves engineering, product management, and design teams partnering with the accessibility team from the start of development to ensure products are usable for all users, including those using screen readers or keyboard navigation. This approach not only meets legal requirements but actually enhances products for the entire user population. When accessibility constraints are considered during innovation, they drive better outcomes and reduce friction for all users. The organization chart redesign project demonstrates how addressing accessibility improved user experience for millions of monthly active users while adding valuable new features.
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Workday
10:37 - 15:13
How did Balaji Rao transition from being a designer to developing product management skills?
As a freelance designer, Balaji had to become more creative when working with founders and entrepreneurs who didn't provide specific instructions for screens and functionality. He needed to figure out design elements himself while asking deeper questions about the product's purpose. Through collaborating with various stakeholders (founders, engineers, business people), he learned to understand entrepreneurs' motivations by probing about target users, unique selling points, and core features. This experience taught him the importance of understanding the purpose behind products and how they solve problems - key product management skills.
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Balaji Rao
01:58 - 03:27
What are the key tips for starting an IT company according to Thomas Preston-Werner?
According to GitHub co-founder Thomas Preston-Werner, the first essential tip is to start something—anything—and keep trying multiple ideas. As he notes, 'The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas,' because success rarely comes from your first attempt. GitHub was his '17,000th idea' after many failures. Second, be very careful about building your team, as most companies fail due to team issues rather than product problems. Start with co-founders rather than employees to create equal partnerships and shared commitment. Finally, build something people actually want—no amount of marketing can trick people into using a product they don't need.
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Rishav Raj Jain
01:59 - 06:26
How do business managers contribute to innovation processes for long-term profitability?
Business managers play a crucial role in innovation by aligning business strategies with new product development and capabilities development processes. They continuously match new products with market opportunities to enhance long-term revenue streams, bridging the gap between innovation and market needs. The third key innovation process is new business development, where managers search for new markets, define and redefine business models, and manage product portfolios. Their focus remains on generating profits over the long term rather than just short-term gains. This strategic approach allows businesses to regularly introduce innovations, including breakthrough products, ensuring sustainable growth and competitiveness.
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Rutgers Business School - Newark & New Brunswick
05:46 - 06:17