Software Savvy Metova

Introduction:
Host: Alondra CruzGuests: Jonathan Sasse & Andrew CowartDuration: 14 minutes, 54 secondsRelease Date: 1/8/2024
Overview:
In this episode of "Software Savvy: Tech Talk for non-tech people," we explore the dynamic world of technology, strategy, and innovation with a focus on Metova's Strategy Sprint Sessions. Host Alondra Cruz sits down with Jonathan Sasse, Chief Strategy Officer, and Andrew Cowart, Chief Technology Officer, to unpack the intricacies of Metova's unique approach to strategy and tech reviews.
Key Highlights:
Introduction to Metova's Strategy Sprint Sessions
Alondra introduces the episode's theme: the significance of strategy and tech reviews in today's fast-paced digital environment.Emphasis on the expertise of Jonathan Sasse and Andrew Cowart as key players in the tech strategy game.
2. Insights into Strategy Reviews (00:02:34)
Jonathan provides a detailed overview of the strategy review process.Discussion on the key questions, focus areas, and the creation of a comprehensive scorecard.How strategy reviews help businesses understand their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
3.Tech Reviews Unveiled (00:04:19)
Andrew delves into the tech review process, distinguishing it from longer assessments.Exploration of the two segments: current technology ecosystem and future technology roadmap.The role of tech reviews in bridging the gap between the present and desired technological transformation.
4.Preparing for the Sessions (00:05:19)
Insightful advice from Jonathan and Andrew on how businesses can best prepare for the strategy and tech review sessions.Emphasis on having core stakeholders available and bringing forward current challenges and concerns.
5. Complementary Roles of Strategy and Tech Assessments (00:07:02)
Discussion on how strategy and tech assessments complement each other in a full engagement.Jonathan and Andrew provide insights into their distinct perspectives, focusing on "who and what" and "how and when."
6.Post-Review Process and Reports (00:09:29)
Jonathan and Andrew share what businesses can expect post-review, including customized reports.Discussion on how these reports serve as catalysts for informed decision-making and strategic planning.
Closing Thoughts:
Jonathan emphasizes the importance of approaching the sessions with an open mind, comparing it to a therapeutic conversation.Andrew emphasizes that Metova's role is to provide a sounding board, not replace existing teams.
Next Steps:
Alondra announces the landing page for booking one-hour strategy or tech review sessions with Jonathan or Andrew.Limited spaces are available, encouraging listeners to sign up on the Metova website.
Schedule a Session today! https://metova.com/strategysession/
Outro:
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How to start scoping?Evaluate where you are starting. Are you starting from zero or have you already accomplished a certain amount of work in trying to define what your product is? What have you already created,  produced, or defined - anything you can share to help create some kind of a scoping reference for the team you’ll be working with. Can someone else start to understand your idea and your vision?
Some questions to consider…
Who is this product for? What problems does it solve? What are the business objectives? Who are the people that are gonna be using it?How are they gonna be using it? 

Understanding Project Ranges
A product of any kind, from a web, mobile, or custom software perspective, could have a wide range of costs. The more you invest in defining what your scope needs to be and who it's for, the more you can leverage a budget that will work for your project.  

The House Analogy
You wouldn't ask somebody how much a house costs without giving them some idea - where is it? How big is the lot? How many square feet is it? Otherwise, you could be talking anywhere from a hundred thousand dollars to tens of millions of dollars. The same goes with software. You’ll want to be as transparent as possible in the beginning, in order to be able to produce the results that you want and that are within your budget. 

Is there room to grow after you set your scope?
This is where we lean on the strategy team with our clients to see where they are at. What is their particular industry vertical like? What is their niche like? What makes the most sense when it comes to developing software?Do we take a very bare-bones, MVP approach that might be a bit more cost-effective and agile to develop? Or is this a critical, "it has to be right on the first go", release? A lot of these things get easier to figure out the closer to the deadline you get because requirements change, constraints change. It's easy to sit down and whiteboard- plan all of it out and then once you get into the reality of the situation, you might realize you need to pivot some, and all of this is happening while the market's ever-shifting.

Knowing when to sit in your project’s definition
Understand that you could work on the definition forever. Look at what the objective is. Are we trying to get something to market as soon as possible at the highest quality possible with a minimum feature set? There's a goal that needs to be met there. A lot of times, things can get a little sideways when the ideation phase of the project never really stops.
You want to get, where you know what your core personas are, you know what they need, you know what problems you're trying to solve and you have an idea of what your go-to-market plan is. Even if go-to-market is an internal review of some sort, you satisfied the definition to the point where you can meet that milestone. If there are timeline or budget constraints that are driving the project, ensure that the entire team has to be aware of those constraints and know when those trade-offs need to be made. 

Don’t be afraid of an MVP!!
Rapid prototype style development is one of the best happy mediums if you're caught somewhere between, "I have all these great ideas and I've thought it all the way through, but I've not really started yet." Take pieces that are much more budget-friendly and just build out units of that. While doing that, do it in a paint-by-number way where we know where all the numbers are, but we're just going to paint in the certain things that we're able to, and bootstrap an app that way. Break it down...

In this episode, we delve into the importance of digital transformation for companies.
Joining us today are Jonathan Sasse and Joseph Jackson, experts in business strategy and software development.
We answer questions like: What is digital transformation? How attainable is planning a digital transformation to act as an industry disruptor? What are the recommendations for companies just starting out on their journey? And what might be the first steps on the journey? Join us as we uncover the benefits, challenges, and strategies involved in embarking on a successful digital transformation.
Episode Highlights:
What is digital transformation?
Definition of digital transformation and its significance in today's business landscape.Understanding the impact of technology on business processes, customer experience, and market competitiveness.
The attainability of planning a digital transformation
Exploring the feasibility of implementing digital transformation as an industry disruptor.
Recommendations for companies starting out
Practical advice and key considerations for organizations initiating their digital transformation journey.The importance of aligning digital transformation goals with overall business objectives and culture.The importance of listening to your customer
First steps on the digital transformation journey
Outlining the initial stages of a digital transformation strategy. Identifying key stakeholders, aligning visions and goals, understanding customer needs
Overcoming uncertainty for business owners
Addressing the concerns and uncertainties that arise during a digital transformation journey.Strategies for managing change, fostering organizational buy-in, and building a culture of innovation.
Role of AI and automation in digital transformation
Exploring the intersection of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and automation.How businesses can leverage AI and automation technologies to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth.
Common challenges on the digital transformation journey
Identifying the hurdles organizations commonly face during their digital transformation efforts.Solutions and best practices for overcoming obstacles such as resistance to change, legacy systems, and talent acquisition.
Follow us on linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metova/

So you have an app idea...What's next? In this episode, we discuss the steps individuals and organizations need to take to ensure their digital product idea is successful.

In this episode of Software Savvy, we discuss tips for non-tech founders looking to hire the right tech partner for their business. Building an app or software can be a daunting task, and choosing the right tech partner can make all the difference. In this episode, we'll talk about the importance of communication, local options and recommendations, how to assess between different providers (i.e., Fivver, freelancers, tech agencies), and the importance of intellectual property ownership, among other considerations when choosing your tech partner.

We discuss these topics with Andrew Cowart, CTO at Metova, and Joseph Jackson, VP of Technology at Metova.