What Is the Danger of Focusing Only on Outputs?
Focusing solely on outputs, such as adding more features or striving for perfection, can lead to building outdated or unnecessary products. This wastes resources and risks losing users to competitors.
When teams fixate on outputs (aka delivery mode), they’re not just building waste, but also fail to produce meaningful value, setting themselves up for compounding failure.
Metaphor
Focusing only on outputs is like stocking a store shelf with products no one asked for. The shelves look full, but customers walk out empty-handed.
When teams chase outputs instead of outcomes, they risk burning time and money on the wrong things while competitors win by meeting real needs.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking:(1)