"The joy of beta"

Martin Terre Blanche's post lines up nicely with Hans Henrick H.Heming's final point in the previous post on beta thinking. It's about honesty and what is essentally transparency with customers...

"...What also makes a big difference is that the people behind so many of the new online services now communicate openly with their 'customers' about what is going on behind the scenes. If there's some big stuff-up, they'll tell you about it. And they'll try to keep you informed about where they think things are going..."

I've recently witnessed first hand [and been impressed by] such a scenario with a newly developed service that is experiencing some teething problems and is redefining itself. It's an attitude I think not neccessarily a "process" as such.

Beta thinking

I appreciate the recent thoughts posted elswhere on the topic of "beta thinking". The discussion so far conveniently frames a range of issues and processes that have intrigued and frustrated me for some time now.

I was particularly impressed by Hans Henrick H. Heming's analysis. Hans says, "...beta is very much a state of creation, innovation, creating change, facilitating change with high speed..."

Hans has taken on the task of developing a "Beta Manifesto"...

1. being in beta is a natural state of life. Everything aroundus is either evolving or dying.
2. beta is playing. Experimenting. Trying.
3. beta is constant learning.
4. beta is profiting in the true nature of the word “profit”. Making progress.
5. beta is never perfect. Never completely without fault. Just like any human being. Everything can be made better. Allways. Achieving temporary perfection is better than aspiring for the ultimate perfection that is never reached.
6. beta is release as soon as it is safe. But never sooner. Only daredevils flies planes in beta or takes unfinished medicine.
7. beta is a natural state of things. Your body is in perpetual beta until you die (maybe..)
8. beta is evolution. Many small gradual changes. Suddenly they may seem like giant leaps.
9. beta is revolution. Not completely in control. Just like the real world.
10. beta is open. Ready for dialogue. Open for change. Positive for co-creation.
11. beta stands for things that changes. Change with consistancy.
12. beta creates feedback loops for companies, individuals and products.
13. beta is honest. Not superficial.

From my own experience and perspectives I'd concurr with most of the above. It is undoubtedly true that there is always room for improvements and that ongoing processes of quality management are the mark of what is only sensible business practice. Continuous learning in organisations becomes the basis for ongoing improvements and innovations, this can be formal or informal...

I wonder however where the line between a product or service being by nature and conception "beta" and where this state of apparent "flux" is perceived to be disorganisation, or worse incompetence by the consumer. Han's point about release as soon as it is safe is a key point. Beware the "unfinished medicine". ;)