Each week I scour articles, wading through the dogs, and bringing you the best insights to help product managers and innovators be heroes.

Software product prioritization using Vision, Valuable, Validated, Viable, Visible, and Verifiable. This article presents the 6 V’s of prioritizing features for software products,  but they apply to other products as well. While the framework shared is incomplete, it is a good perspective on how feature candidates are considered. Read about each V at http://www.chrisheuer.com/2017/06/14/the-5-vs-of-software-product-management-prioritization/

How Behavior-Driven Development improves software product management. BBD integrates product management, development, and quality assurance. It is built on top of Test-Driven Development that writes tests for code first, then the code is written and only committed after passing the test. BBD adds a specific unifying language called Gherkin. Read more at https://www.nerdery.com/blog/what-is-behavior-driven-development

New Research – Adaptive spaces that increase innovation in organizations. About 50% of US annual GDP growth is attributed to product innovation. Most executives assert that organizational success depends on innovation. Yet, companies still struggle to innovative effectively. Adaptive space is any physical or virtual environment that allows people to share information and ideas. Read about the results of research in this area at http://www.globaladvisors.biz/inc-feed/20170613/how-to-catalyze-innovation-in-your-organization/

The impatient strategy and the patient strategy for innovation are the winners – if you know when to use each. While many think innovation is an unpredictable process, it has predictable features. This article, based on a TED talk, presents an interesting insight into what works… http://blog.ted.com/two-surprising-strategies-for-effective-innovation/

Big companies are more often finding co-creation with customers leads to success. This week I visited FirstBuild, GE Appliance’s innovation lab that uses open innovation to co-create new products. BMW is trying co-creation as well. Read about it at https://www.steelcase.com/research/articles/topics/innovation/bmw-driving-innovation/

The PriceWaterhouseCoopers annual innovation benchmark report is out. The big issue is aligning business strategy with innovation strategy – this is where organizations successful with innovation begin. Get the report at http://www.pwc.com/us/en/advisory-services/business-innovation/innovation-benchmark-findings.html