No Framework processes — Flawed Approaches in Digital Health Product Development!
If you need a detailed Excel based documentation of the below, reach out to me on LinkedIn.
In the rapidly evolving field of digital health, developing a robust framework for product development is crucial to ensure that new technologies effectively meet the needs of healthcare providers, patients, and stakeholders. The integration of digital health technologies into healthcare systems aims to transform care delivery by making it more proactive, predictive, and patient-centered.
By adopting a comprehensive framework, digital health product development can be more effectively aligned with the goals of modern healthcare systems. A framework based approach ensures that new technologies are not only innovative but also practical and beneficial in real-world healthcare environments.
Below is a framework that I regularly use for myself:
Overview of the framework
Vision and Strategy
- Why are we building this thing?
- Why are we building it now?
- How is it aligned with the company’s vision?
- How is it aligned with the company’s strategy?
- What is unique about our product?
- Where do you want the product to be in a year?
- What is your top concern that the product won’t be where you want it to be?
Customer and Market Understanding
- Who are we building it for?
- What are the customers’ needs/jobs?
- How will it affect our customers and users?
- How can we ensure our customers will love it?
- Will our customers know how to use it?
- Are we working with the right audience?
- What features should be removed from the product?
- How many people or teams are we talking about using this functionality?
Value and Success Metrics
- What does success look like? How can we measure it?
- How will it create value for the business?
- How do you know if your product is successful and delivers high value?
- How can we get maximum validating learning with minimum effort?
Feasibility and Resources
- Can we buy it instead of building it?
- Can our business support it (e.g., legal, finances)?
- Is it feasible? Can we build it with existing technology?
- Do we have the required channels?
- What skills do product owners need to be successful?
- How do you differentiate between the product owner and the product manager roles?
- How do you prioritize features and tasks in the product backlog?
Risk and Ethics
- Should we do it at all? Are there any ethical considerations?
- What else can go wrong?
- What are the riskiest assumptions? How can we test them?
Stakeholder Engagement
- Who are your product stakeholders? Who are the key stakeholders?
- How do you know if you’re doing a good job?
- What challenges are you trying to solve with this product?
- How can you mitigate being a bottleneck for the software development process?
Product Development Process
- What have you done in the past 5 sprints to increase the chances of delivering a high-value product?
- How can we bring it to market?
- How do you ensure regulatory compliance throughout the development process?
- What is your approach to user testing and feedback integration?
- How do you manage cross-functional teams during development?
- What strategies do you use to handle technical debt?
- How do you incorporate security measures into the development process?
- How do you balance innovation with risk management?
Overview on tips to answer these questions in product/ feature development
Overview for digital health products
If an AI component is added, then below is a potential approach:
My journey so far has been rewarding and fun. In my product documentation and research, I will try to answer all these questions. I will also include co-working sessions and cross-functional collaborative workshops with other team members and C-level to tackle these challenges. Using a structured framework has made it easier (at least for me) to navigate this complex landscape
Do you use any such frameworks, or did I miss any questions that can add value to product development in healthcare?