What is it good for?
- Help you to decide whether you’re ready to start creating your solution idea
- Realise the gaps you might need to fill
When to use it
How to use it
There are three statements to consider. If these are true for you they you might be ready to start development and move towards building your solution.
The three statements to consider:
- Your user research has given you a robust understanding of the problem you’re trying to solve for your users
- The solution ideas you tested have proven or disproven your hypotheses / riskiest assumptions
- You have evidence you could create something that meets users’ needs and is cost-effective
If one or more of the statements above is not true for you than you’ll need to:
- stop altogether (pause) or
- decide to do more user research and/or testing (pivot)
Deciding to pause or pivot might feel discouraging, but it's actually a positive step. It's far better to stop now than to create a product or prototype that doesn't meet your community's needs.
Remember, the Discover and Define phases help you learn and gain confidence that you're creating the right solution. Having to pause or pivot is just as valuable as finding a solution to develop further.
It can be helpful at this stage to talk to a professional or a peer to figure out what your next steps should be.
- Talk to a digital professional for a free 1 hour troubleshooting session through Digital Candle
- Take part in Coffee Connections - we’ll put in touch with a charity digital peer every two months for an informal online chat
- Sign up to the Digital Leads Network to get ongoing peer support and professional development opportunities
If it’s clear you’re ready to move into Develop, in the following section of the Digital Toolkit, you'll find tools for finding an agency or freelancer who will match both your charity's technical needs and values; choosing software; and creating a clear roadmap for developing your idea.