In a world focused on technical perfection, a senior leader’s assertion that “sometimes, we just have to build the right things and not, necessarily, build things right” can seem like heresy. However, this statement holds some truth, especially in product development and innovation. For many engineers, steeped in a culture of careful execution, this shift in mindset can be a significant challenge.

The Problem with “Building Things Right”

Engineers are trained to solve problems with precision. They take pride in crafting elegant, optimized solutions that function flawlessly. This focus on technical excellence is undeniably valuable. But what if all this effort is spent building the perfect solution to the wrong problem?

A product might be a marvel of engineering - robust, scalable, and packed with features - yet utterly fail in the market because it doesn’t address a genuine user need or pain point. This is the trap of “building things right” without considering whether it’s the “right thing” to build.

The Importance of “Building the Right Things”

Building the right things means deeply understanding the problem you are trying to solve and the end-user you are trying to serve. It requires a shift from inward-focused technical brilliance towards outward-focused, customer-centric thinking. Here’s why a “build the right thing” approach is essential:

  • Market alignment: Building the right solution guarantees the product addresses a real need, and increases its chances of adoption and success.
  • Resource optimization: It saves time and resources from being wasted on solutions that people ultimately want.
  • Innovation: An emphasis on identifying and solving core customer needs can lead to truly innovative and disruptive products.

Challenges for Engineers

Letting go of the obsession with perfection can be difficult for engineers. Here are some reasons why they struggle with the concept of “building the right things”:

  • Training and mindset: Engineering education often prioritizes technical skill and problem-solving over understanding customer needs and market dynamics.
  • Ego and pride: Engineers may take pride in the elegance and technical superiority of their work, making it hard to accept a less-than-perfect solution.
  • Fear of failure: A focus on ‘right things’ might involve scrapping work or pivoting based on user feedback, which can feel like failure from a traditional engineering perspective.

Strategies for Embracing the Change

Adopting a “build the right things” approach requires a concerted effort from both engineers and organizational leadership. Here’s how you can make it happen:

  • Develop customer empathy: Engineers need direct exposure to users and their pain points through methods like user interviews, observation, and feedback sessions.
  • Embrace agile methodologies: Agile processes with iterative development and user feedback help identify and validate the ‘right thing’ early on.
  • Focus on Minimum Viable Products (MVPs): The concept of the MVP encourages launching a functional, but not necessarily feature-rich, product to the market to gain insights and quickly assess its relevance.
  • Redefine success: Move away from success metrics tied exclusively to technical perfection towards those that emphasize solving real-world problems.

Conclusion

Building the right things isn’t about sacrificing quality; it’s about aligning quality with purpose. By embracing customer-centricity, a focus on solving the core problems, and a willingness to experiment and iterate, engineers and organizations can unlock true innovation and create products that have a lasting and meaningful impact.