Presented on 7 Nov 2012 in the Singapore Computer Society, the talk focus on the priorities, challenges and paradigms where a product manager should decide if their digital product should go mobile or web first. The talk also introduce the lean startup model and responsive web design to the audience.

1. Mobile or Web first?
Priorities, Challenges, Paradigms on Product
Development in the IDM industry.
Bernard Leong
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2. The new digital dilemma
• Priorities: Product
Management from Start-up to
Corporation.
• Challenges: Desktop vs
Mobility, Device Fragmentation
& Market Demand
• Paradigms: Responsive Web
Design, Lean Startup Model
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3. Priorities
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4. In a start-up...
• Setting: Limited engineering & financial
resources.
• Strategy: Develop a product based on an idea
that drives sustainable business growth
• Market: B2B or B2C
• Execution: Quick and iterative development
based on customer feedback & internal metrics
• Platform Choices: Should we start with one
platform or a solution opening up to many?
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5. In a large corporation
• Setting: Strong but focussed engineering &
financial resources.
• Strategy: Expanding a portfolio of products or a
product to other platforms (mobility).
• Market: B2B or B2C
• Execution: Longer product development cycles
• Question: Should we start with one platform or
a solution opening up to many?
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6. Challenges
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7. “Desktop First” Perspective
Facebook
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8. “Mobile First” Perspective
Fab.com - E-Commerce Site
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9. Native vs Web App
Picture Credits: Six Revisions
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10. Development Native App Web App
Each platform has its own
Runs on the browser of the
Development Process development process (iOS,
device (desktop or mobile)
Android, WP7, BB)
Written on HTML5, CSS,
Each platform has its own
Javascript or web application
Programming Language programming language: Java
frameworks: PHP, Ruby or
(Android), Objective-C (iOS)
Python.
Standard SDKs provided by each
Programming Tools No standard frameworks.
platform.
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11. Development Native App Web App
Leverage on native features,
information & hardware of the Leverage on limited features:
Capabilities
device, e.g, camera, GPS, GPS, camera.
gyroscope, accelerometer.
Installation as an application & No installation and updates are
Installation & Updates requires users to download & made to the web server without
update. user intervention
No app stores but requires
Distribution App stores and marketplaces
SEO and social media efforts.
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12. Which mobile platform?
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13. Display Resolution & Screen Sizes
Picture Credits: Display Resolution (Wikipedia)
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14. Numbers can be deceiving ...
Apple iPhone OS
Android OS
Blackberry RIM
4% 2%
2% Windows Mobile
Windows Phone
12% Others
32%
49%
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16. Paradigms
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17. Can we build a product as quickly as possible?
Eric Ries: The Lean Startup Model
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18. How do we develop for various devices?
Responsive Web Design
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19. Source: DCI - http://www.dotcominfoway.com/
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20. Summary
• Priorities: Focus on the business objectives first
before product development.
• Challenges: Make decisions on product based
on design & platforms. Successful platforms
tend to focus on one platforms.
• Paradigms: Build products with modern ideas
from the lean startup model and responsive web
design to limit the complexities of the mobile
web.
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