Comments on: How media companies can think more like startups

By: Ian Lamont

Ian Lamont — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:37:52 +0000

Hello Scott, Thanks for your response. Someone else left a comment about the proposed Lean Media Framework, and how branding fits in. Here is my response: Lean Media: The importance of intangibles and brands More discussion is required to develop the framework and make something useful for small and large media companies. It would be great to touch base -- email me at lamont@sloan.mit.edu.

By: Sachin Ruhela

Sachin Ruhela — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 07:46:38 +0000

Thanks it’s a good piece of writing for Social Media Business/Businessman.

By: Scott Adams

Scott Adams — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 22:48:09 +0000

Ian,

Love this kind of think and will reach out.

Scott Adams
Globe and Mail

By: Ian Lamont

Ian Lamont — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:14:16 +0000

Great essay. Having seen the mindset from both sides of the divide (I developed and managed digital products for large media companies before founding a mobile software startup and a digital content company), I agree that big media often does fail to engage with audiences in order to determine what they want.

But here’s the thing: Journalists, producers, designers, programmers and other people at big media companies are perfectly capable of coming up with great ideas based on what they think audiences will want, or based on their own experiences as users of media. Most of the ideas are bad (or are based on flawed assumptions) but there are some gems.

If you think about it, this is how David Karp approached Tumblr. He didn’t survey audiences or talk to users for his first prototype. He just built something that he wanted — and was able to quickly discover that other people wanted it, too.

This is Lean Media defined. Identify a need, come up with a testable hypothesis, and get a simple prototype out in front of audiences as quickly as possible. If it fails, it’s back to the drawing board. If there is a positive reaction from users/audiences, then iterate & improve based on user feedback.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Lean Media (see A Proposal For A Lean Media Framework ). I’d really like to get input from people in the industry about how to create a framework for Lean Media development that can help both established companies and startups develop digital media products that users want. If you’d like to discuss or contribute, leave a comment or contact me at lamont@sloan.mit.edu.

By: Greg Golebiewski

Greg Golebiewski — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:00:35 +0000

I am afraid it is impossible for a legacy company to think like a startup. And, frankly, I would not wish any media executive to go through the “startup experience,” unless they are immune to constant ignorant skepticism and rejection by almost everybody else.

But I would recommend, at least, to pick up a few business books and learn from the experience of others. Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne can be a good start, also for journalists who cover those issues

By: jillgu

jillgu — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:23:52 +0000

Reblogged this on JillGu and commented:
This piece of blog mainly looks at platform of social media in marketing aspect. Given successful examples of founder of Tumblr David Karp, the reason he set up tumblr is because that he want a platform both can share pictures and thoughts not only the professional outlet like Flickr or Twitter. It is just his own demand and luckily he has followed up by a large number of groups of people who with similar need.
Today’s media organization, no matter the size is small, medium or large companies. The common question is that do they really clarify what the users need when a new designed media product come to them.
It can be seen that the importance of marketing team in whole organisation. I have watched a TV programm recently. The show is about recruiting people or talent for various companies. The recuiter are the CEO themselves, I remembered words from one of CEOs is that ‘the crucial reason that led a startup companies failed is because people are just imagine buyers’ needs, actually research is far more enough’. The idea matches what this blog’s purpose.
Indeed, consumer’s requirements and expectations are the most important in every profit-making organisations.