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An introduction to the Quartz Open Framework
The document introduces the Quartz Open Framework, an innovation methodology consisting of 6 phases (Discover, Commit, Describe, Create, Deliver, Connect) arranged in a hexagonal structure. Each phase contains planning and execution facets to systematically move ideas from concept to launch. The framework is intended to be customized to individual organizations and integrated with existing processes like Agile. It aims to improve cross-team collaboration, learning from the market, and making innovation more repeatable.
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An introduction to the Quartz Open Framework
- 2. that INSIGHT isnot an accident. that INNOVATION is repeatable. that SUCCESS is more than luck. WE BELIEVE: (and in 28 slides, so will you!)
- 3. A specific (andtime-proven) process framework for innovation, the Quartz Open Framework.
- 4. To understand Quartz, weneed to understand how process frameworks work differently
- 5. Most methodologies forproduct development, business management, and marketing provide the pieces you need to manage your project and demonstrate how those pieces fit together — like a puzzle — but they don’t provide instructions on how to assemble the puzzle properly. While elegant, these solutions can be difficult to implement in real life. As a process framework, Quartz defines both the necessary steps and how to order them, turning innovation into a choreographed dance. Quartz also describes how the dance continues once the first version of your idea has launched.
- 6. Quartz is… ➔ Amarket-driven methodology centered on learning from your customer-base. ➔ Recursive, i.e., the end of one cycle is the beginning of the next. ➔ Openly used and modified through a Creative Commons International Attribution License, customize and build on Quartz as you see fit.
- 7. Quartz is… ➔ Hexagonalby design: The hexagon is nature’s most efficient shape, allowing for the most coverage of an area using the least amount of material possible. We use it to remind us that innovation may be a large task, but does not need to be lumbering or unwieldy.
- 8. Quartz is… ➔ Threephases (color coded), each containing two facets, one for planning and one for execution. ➔ The process begins by defining objectives in the future, next deciding how to make that future reality, and finally gearing up to launch before rolling key learnings into the next “future.” ➔ Designed to be fluid: facets of Quartz are not gates or handoffs, they can blend together.
- 9. Quartz is… ➔ DEEP. Eachfacet contains multiple outcomes for an organization to achieve along the way and decisions that need to be made. Outcomes can be granular and modified as necessary based on preferences, requirements, or existing processes/frameworks (i.e., Agile, Pragmatic, or SCRUM).
- 10. We created Quartzwith the idea that it could go as deep as an organization needs it to… Each outcome could have 6 smaller child deliverables or tasks underneath, and each of those could have children, and so forth. As the authors of Quartz, we feel it’s our job to provide a structure that works — we have left it open for you to adapt it to your organization.
- 11. Facets of theQuartz hexagon in detail:
- 12. FUTURE: ➔ Before investingin a new idea, know whether it is worth it for our organization, where it fits in our portfolio, and what people want to buy/adopt. That’s where the DISCOVER and COMMIT facets come in.
- 13. FUTURE: DISCOVER ➔ In DISCOVER,observe and interact with the market to find problems to solve. Document market facts and define success criteria for the organization. Analyze the market data to find trends, to DISCOVER the best opportunities and submit them for approval.
- 14. FUTURE: DISCOVER: OUTCOMES ➔ TargetPersonas: You’re solving the problem for ________. ➔ Problem Definition: Know why your Target Persona needs a solution. ➔ Solution Definition: Identify the market need and define a product vision. ➔ Opportunity Scoring: Use a standard prioritization method to score the feasibility of the solution. ➔ Success Criteria: Define success in business terms (i.e., market share, adoption rate, EBITDA, revenue, reduced cost, or profit). ➔ Executive Briefing: Share business, market, and solution information for executive approval to proceed.
- 15. FUTURE: COMMIT ➔ In COMMIT,scope and validate the best opportunities from the DISCOVER phase. Use the data to create a business model, explain the model in a business plan and use it to seek approval from management. Earn the organization’s commitment to this project through allocation of resources and budget to go forward.
- 16. FUTURE: COMMIT: OUTCOMES ➔ ProfitableFinancial Model: Develop an approach for costing and revenue that shows your financial results over time. ➔ Business Plan: Provide a brief document for the business plans and assumptions for the solution idea. ➔ Market Validation: Test the solution idea with potential buyers to judge the urgency of the problem and the viability of your solution. ➔ Resource Allocation: Define who will be doing what and share out with the organization.
- 17. NEXT: ➔ Now thatthe business is going forward with the innovation, lay out the vision and goals of the project, define who will buy/adopt the innovation, and set about making it. That’s where the DESCRIBE and CREATE facets come in.
- 18. NEXT: DESCRIBE ➔ In DESCRIBE,inspire design, engineering, and the rest of the organization with real stories about real people. Help them understand the vision for the product, and the goals of the user personas. Together, consider delivery methods and create a roadmap that enables an effective delivery approach and cadence.
- 19. NEXT: DESCRIBE: OUTCOMES ➔ SolutionVision & Goals: Describe the problems to be solved and personas to be served by the solution. ➔ Solution Roadmap: A roadmap sequences the stories to be delivered. ➔ Personas and Problems: Describe the decision makers and other influencers as well as the problems that will be addressed for those who use the product. Focus on what will be solved, not how it will be solved. ➔ Constraints and Alternatives: What limits your persona from adopting your solution? What alternative solutions already exist? ➔ Development Briefing: Share business, market, product, and domain information to provide insights for this team’s deliverables.
- 20. NEXT: CREATE ➔ In CREATE,work together to enable effective solution design and development. Help with adjustments and clarifications and define success criteria. Stay aware of progress, and monitor the status of development towards a delivery date, answer questions and report back on status.
- 21. NEXT: CREATE: OUTCOMES ➔ PrioritizeDeliverables: Continually manage the list of stories with context and business value. ➔ Clarify Success Criteria: Determine specific results for acceptance of deliverables. “We’ll know we’re done when…” ➔ Monitor and Report: Display of the project status including items such as number of prioritized items pending, work in progress, items completed pending acceptance, and items accepted. ➔ Development Support: Support the product team with product and market expertise.
- 22. NOW: ➔ It’s timeto mobilize the internal teams and prepare to connect with your market. Come up with go-to-market plans and define launch goals. As you execute on those plans and vision, consider what has and has not worked and feed that information back into the organization. That’s where the DELIVER & CONNECT facets come in.
- 23. NOW: DELIVER ➔ In DELIVER,plan the strategies and programs that will connect your offering to your market. Enable the creation of go-to-market plans that include a clear articulation of the vision and goals for launch. Formalize the deliverables, promotions, constraints, and goals necessary to deliver your product or solution to market.
- 24. NOW: DELIVER: OUTCOMES ➔ LaunchVision and Goals: Articulate your objectives and key results for introducing your product or solution. Consider awareness, adoption, growth, and revenue goals. ➔ Go-to-Market Strategy: Define your approach for promoting the solution. ➔ Internal Readiness: Maintain a dashboard indicating the organization’s preparedness to support the product. This can be a simple red-light/green-light display or Ready/Not ready. ➔ Marketing Briefing: Support the marketing team with product and market expertise.
- 25. NOW: CONNECT ➔ In CONNECT,empower the customer journey, from interest to adoption. Also empower teams to sell, support, and service the product. Execute on delivery plans — enable sales channels and support the promotions team. Essentially, ensure that the solution is ready for market.
- 26. NOW: CONNECT: OUTCOMES ➔ MarketReadiness: Display of the project status including items such as number of prioritized items pending, work in progress, items completed pending acceptance, and items accepted. ➔ Sales Channel Enablement: Develop content for customer and sales tools. ➔ Marketing Support: Support the promotions team with product and domain expertise.
- 27. The Quartz processnever really “ends,” we simply continue by defining our next Future: ➔ Before continuing to invest in an idea, know whether it is worth it for the organization, if it still fits in our portfolio, and whether anyone wants to continue buying/adopting that solution. Re-Discover and re-Commit as you gain feedback from the market.
- 28. PROVIDES AN OPEN PRODUCT INNOVATION METHODOLOGY BeforeQuartz, framework and process options for product teams were tied to walled gardens that require significant investment to implement, limit availability and pigeon- hole usage. With Quartz, we have blown that wide open. PROVIDES A COMMON LANGUAGE ACROSS TEAMS Communicating both with your team and cross-functionally is just plain easier when you speak a common language. Quartz provides that common language with an intuitive and clear methodology designed to break down silos and improve cross- functional efforts. ALLOWS YOUR BUSINESS TO REMAIN FLUID AND FLEXIBLE What works for the average may not work for you. A modern, open product innovation methodology needs to be flexible enough to be adapted to individual business needs. By design, Quartz actively encourages independent adoption and remix. Fork away! EASES BOTTLENECKS AND IMPROVES VELOCITY Quartz is light on handoffs and gated processes by design. This allows for smoother transitions between stages and teams. Being this nimble means speeding velocity, improving decision-time and opening up more room for innovation. INTEGRATES ACROSS TEAMS AND EXISTING FRAMEWORKS We want it to be easy to implement Quartz. We also recognize that your cross-functional partners use their own processes and methodologies like SAFe or SCRUM. As you might expect from a modern methodology, Quartz is designed from the ground up to integrate well with these and others. Quartz...
- 29. Imagine a business... ...wherefeedback from the market and learnings from iteration are instantly fed back into the business and acted upon. Imagine cross- functional teams speaking with a common language and using common practices. Imagine that innovation is a repeatable, scalable endeavour. Imagine that risk is reduced throughout the process and the opportunities for success are higher. When something is made, they know beforehand that someone wants to buy it. NOW. ➔ This is a Quartz organization. This could be YOUR organization.
- 30. With this slidedeck and tools you already have on-hand, you can start using Quartz today. Give Quartz a try with any idea you’ve been considering. Start with DISCOVER and work your way around to CONNECT as shown in this document. You’ll see that Quartz has already helped you understand what will and will not work. The Quartz Open Framework is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.