A New Way to Build Products
In today's fast-paced world of product building, creating impactful software isn’t just about having a lightbulb moment or assembling a killer team—it’s about turning those ideas into practical, customer-centered solutions that truly make a difference. This requires balancing technical demands, business needs, and user expectations.
This guide is here to walk you through not just the “how” but the “why” behind key product-building principles and help you weave them into your organization’s DNA. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, we’ll break down everything from the evolution of product-building methodologies to the mental models that will transform how you approach problems. Plus, we’ll introduce you to the Product Building OS, a comprehensive suite designed by experts to simplify the entire process.
Why Building Products is So Challenging
Every Product Begins as an Idea
Sure, it all starts with a concept, but turning that concept into something tangible and functional—something that serves your customers and supports your business—is where the real challenge lies. Product building is about balancing multiple factors, like:
- Technical feasibility
- User experience
- Business viability
- Market dynamics
And here’s the kicker: No two products are the same. Each one has its unique blend of challenges, meaning there’s never a cookie-cutter approach to success. The process is especially tough in the early stages—what we call the zero-to-one phase—when uncertainty is at an all-time high.
During this stage, big questions emerge:
- Is there a viable market for this product?
- What exactly do customers need?
- Can we build it? Even more importantly, can we maintain it?
Solving these problems takes a village: business analysts, engineers, designers, marketers, data scientists, and more, all working in unison to create something sustainable and successful.
A Brief History of Product Building
The roots of product building can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution, when large-scale production methods were first developed. As businesses grew, so did the need for more efficient production frameworks. By the 20th century, systems like the Toyota Production System (TPS) and Lean Manufacturing emerged, highlighting the importance of reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve adapted those principles to software development:
- Lean Startup by Eric Ries took the Lean Manufacturing principles and applied them to software, with an emphasis on hypothesis-driven development and rapid iteration.
- Agile and Scrum introduced flexibility into the product-building process, enabling teams to pivot and adjust as new information surfaced.
A New Approach to Product Building
Today, building a product is viewed not just as a process but as a craft—a delicate balance of strategy, creativity, and execution. High-performing teams and businesses recognize this and use product building as a key driver for digital transformation.
Successful product building requires two things:
- The right tools and frameworks to guide the process.
- A strategic mindset that embraces uncertainty and solves problems by balancing competing priorities.
To help with this, mental models are essential. These frameworks for thinking help us navigate uncertainty and solve problems more effectively. Below, we’ll discuss three key mental models that shape successful product builders and have directly inspired the Product Building OS.
Double Diamond: Structuring the Product-Building Journey
The Double Diamond model, developed by the UK Design Council, provides a structured approach to solving complex problems. It divides the process into four stages:
- Discovery: Understand the problem and gather insights into customer needs.
- Definition: Clearly define the problem and identify possible solutions.
- Design: Create, test, and refine solutions based on feedback.
- Development: Turn the final solution into a real, working product and launch it.
This model is especially helpful for product managers working with multidisciplinary teams, as it emphasizes collaboration and iterative testing to minimize risks and get to the best solution.
Cone of Uncertainty: Planning for the Unknown
The Cone of Uncertainty, a concept from Barry Boehm, reminds us that uncertainty is highest at the start of the product-building process and decreases as we gather more information. By acknowledging and planning for uncertainty, teams can manage risk and adapt as they learn more about their product, market, and users.
Product Taxonomy: Balancing Viability, Usability, and Feasibility
Marty Cagan’s Product Taxonomy from SVPG highlights three crucial dimensions that every product needs to balance:
- Viability: Does the product align with business goals, and can it succeed in the market?
- Usability: Does the product offer a smooth, enjoyable experience for users?
- Feasibility: Is the product technically possible to build and maintain?
By focusing on these three dimensions, product builders can create products that not only work but thrive—delivering value to customers and driving business results.
Best Practices for Product Leaders
The Product Building OS is more than just a set of tools; it’s a mindset and a playbook for product managers. Here are some of the best practices for making the most of it:
- Involve key stakeholders early: Get input from engineers, designers, and business analysts during the discovery phase.
- Document everything: Capture key decisions, discoveries, and feedback throughout the entire process to ensure knowledge retention.
- Tailor frameworks to fit your needs: Don’t get boxed in by frameworks like the Double Diamond or Lean Startup. Adapt them to your unique situation and challenges.
Introducing the Product Building OS
At the core of any successful product is the ability to manage complexity and stay aligned with business goals while keeping customers’ needs front and center. The Product Building OS was designed with this in mind—a comprehensive suite built by product managers, for product managers.
The Product Building OS is a modular system that gives you everything you need to manage the product lifecycle, from discovery to delivery. Built on Notion, this toolkit integrates seamlessly with other platforms and provides a structured yet flexible workflow. Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned expert, this system is designed to grow alongside your product.
Key Modules of the OS
The Product Building OS is organized into three main modules:
- Manage: Tools for tracking progress, setting up dashboards, and maintaining the overall performance of the product.
- Explore: Tools to help with discovery and ideation, allowing you to think critically about the product's value and document feasibility.
- Deliver: Tools for moving from concept to execution, including roadmaps and tracking charts.
Each module includes customizable dashboard views, allowing you to plug-and-play the components you need. The core ontology consists of 12 interconnected databases that track key product entities, ensuring traceability and transparency throughout the process.
Why the Product Building OS Matters
The more you use the Product Building OS, the more powerful it becomes. Over time, the data you generate compounds, giving you deeper insights and clearer metrics. You can track the performance of specific features, measure customer satisfaction, and compare internal metrics with market data to justify decisions and predict future outcomes.
For example, by tracking a feature over six months, you can understand its performance in real-time, forecast future improvements, and evaluate its impact on your profit and loss statement (P&L).
Ready to Tackle Your Next Product?
Whether you’re navigating the uncertainty of a brand-new product or refining an existing one, the Product Building OS will help you stay organized, make informed decisions, and drive meaningful business outcomes. With the right tools and mental models in place, even the most complex product-building challenges become manageable.
Learn more and supercharge your product building super-powers with belowtion resources:
- Product building guide
- Product building website
Learn more at belowtion.com