{"id":18766,"date":"2022-10-10T16:54:33","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T14:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/?p=18766"},"modified":"2022-10-10T17:03:52","modified_gmt":"2022-10-10T15:03:52","slug":"proof-of-concept","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/product-management\/proof-of-concept\/","title":{"rendered":"What's a Proof of Concept? The Complete Beginner's Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a product manager, or simply as someone involved in the product development process<\/a>, you\u2019ll naturally want to create a great product that works.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But successful products aren\u2019t just those that meet your organization\u2019s strategic goals. They also need to be well-designed, intuitive to use, and meet the needs of your customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All this is why, before diving into full product development, product managers often use what\u2019s known as a proof of concept.<\/span><\/p>\n

A proof of concept (POC) has multiple uses. For starters, it shows investors, executives, and other stakeholders why the product is worth pursuing. And from a project management perspective, it also allows you to test a product\u2019s feasibility before committing time and resources to its full development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll explore what a proof of concept is, what it\u2019s used for, and how to create one. We\u2019ll cover:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What is a proof of concept?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Advantages of a proof of concept<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  3. What\u2019s the difference between a proof of concept and a prototype?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  4. What\u2019s the difference between a proof of concept and an MVP?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  5. How to write a proof of concept: Step-by-step guide<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Ready to supercharge your next POC? Then let\u2019s dive in.<\/span><\/p>\n

    1. What is a proof of concept?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    In product management, a proof of concept (commonly referred to as a POC) is a demonstration\u2014usually code-based\u2014proving that a product can be successfully implemented.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A key step in the product development lifecycle, it occurs early in the process, before significant resources have been committed to product development. Typically, we use a POC to show that a proposed solution is practically feasible and to try and gauge its potential impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Because the proof of concept is only a test, it usually differs from the eventual end product. And since most projects also include a prototype stage, some may believe POCs are unnecessary. However, testing a product\u2019s mechanics early on can offer much insight, saving you pain and cost overruns later on.<\/span><\/p>\n

    While it can take numerous forms, in product development, POCs are usually similar to a small-scale prototype or simulation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s important to emphasize that a proof of concept is <\/span>not<\/b> the same thing as a working product.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Rather, it\u2019s a way of testing if an idea is worth pursuing. Not all POCs will become products. But the best products will start as a solid POC.<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. Advantages of a proof of concept<\/span><\/h2>\n

    POCs are not limited to product management<\/a><\/strong>\u2014they\u2019re used for everything from devising project management methodologies to business tasks. <\/span>However, they\u2019re perhaps most commonly used in software product development<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Unfortunately, when time and budgets are tight, the proof of concept stage is often an area where product managers cut corners. This is because POCs don\u2019t take up a lot of time, which makes it easy to presume they\u2019re dispensable. <\/span>However, that\u2019s far from the case. <\/span><\/p>\n

    There are several advantages of employing them. Four of the most important ones are that they help to:<\/span><\/p>\n