In the fast-paced world of product development, companies often find themselves navigating a landscape filled with both successes and failures. While success stories grab headlines and drive revenue, failed products are equally crucial for organizational learning and growth. In this article, we delve into the topic of failed products, drawing insights from notable examples like the Amazon Fire Phone, Amazon Destinations, Amazon Wallet, Amazon WebPay, General Motors EV-1, and Microsoft Zune. We explore what organizations can learn from these failures and why they should continue to innovate without fear of repercussions.
One of the key lessons from failed products is the importance of understanding market demand and customer needs. Take the Amazon Fire Phone, for instance. The Fire Phone was Amazon’s first attempt to enter the smartphone market in 2014. Despite its innovative features, including 3D dynamic perspective and Firefly technology, the device failed to gain traction due to its high price point and lack of compelling differentiation from existing smartphones. It failed to capture the attention of consumers, resulting in $170 million of unsold inventory and related costs. This highlights the need for thorough market research and customer validation before launching a new product.
Similarly, Amazon’s ventures into travel with Amazon Destinations and its foray into digital wallets with Amazon Wallet and Amazon WebPay faced challenges due to intense competition and a failure to capture a significant market share. These examples underscore the importance of differentiation, value proposition, and strategic positioning in crowded markets.
On the automotive front, General Motors’ EV-1 electric vehicle faced obstacles related to infrastructure limitations, high production costs, and limited consumer acceptance, leading to its discontinuation. Despite its failure, the EV-1 paved the way for future electric vehicle development and highlighted the importance of addressing infrastructure challenges and building consumer trust.
In the realm of digital music, Microsoft Zune failed to dethrone Apple’s iPod due to a combination of factors, including late market entry, limited ecosystem integration, and inferior user experience. This case emphasizes the significance of timing, ecosystem compatibility, and user-centric design in product success.
In my life, I have had my fair share of dealing with failed or suboptimal products and I have learnt from them. Talk about Dealfish, a Classified ads product; Spinlet, a Spotify-wannabe product; Ownai, a Classified ads product and more.
While failed products can be disappointing, organizations should view them as valuable learning experiences rather than punitive setbacks. Punishing the product development team for failures can stifle innovation and creativity, creating a culture of fear and risk aversion. Instead, organizations should foster a culture of experimentation, where failure is seen as an opportunity for growth and learning.
There are several reasons why products fail, including misalignment with market needs, inadequate product-market fit, poor execution, and external factors like technological disruptions and changing consumer preferences. By analyzing these failures, organizations can identify root causes, refine their strategies, and mitigate risks in future product development efforts.
However, the fear of failure should not deter organizations from introducing new products. New products are the lifeblood of innovation-driven companies, fueling growth, differentiation, and competitive advantage. Embracing failure as part of the innovation process allows organizations to iterate quickly, adapt to changing market dynamics, and stay ahead of the curve.
The lean framework, with its emphasis on rapid experimentation, iterative development, and customer feedback, provides a blueprint for organizations to fail fast, learn quickly, and pivot as needed. By adopting a lean mindset, organizations can minimize the time and resources invested in failed initiatives while maximizing learning and innovation.
In conclusion, failed products play a vital role in organizational learning and growth. By studying past failures, embracing a culture of experimentation, and leveraging frameworks like lean methodology, organizations can turn setbacks into opportunities, driving continuous improvement and innovation in product development and management.
Are you bothered about failing or failed products? Contact me and let’s chat. You can also join any of my Product Development and Management trainings
