Research & Exploration
The objective of the Research and Exploration Phase is to investigate, explore and propose the vision for a new product. The Team can dedicate time and focus to develop that creative vision through prototyping and proofs of concept, conducting research, and experimenting with the player experience they intend to build that aligns with the market potential.
The R&E Phase allows teams to remain in an iterative development cycle, assume risks, try and fail, and test and refine the player experience until they are ready to move into the Conceptual Development Phase.
In the PEOPLE category, the focus is on identifying and assembling the Project Leadership Team (“PLT”), which is the core group of Directors responsible for establishing the majority of the project’s foundations moving forward. In addition, an initial team composition plan and accompanying staffing roadmap are proposed, along with its associated team SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). It’s also a good practice to identify all Stakeholders involved with the project, both internal and external, and a plan for their engagement.
In the PRODUCT category, the focus is on building a product vision that is aligned with the company’s business & operational objectives, and confirming the product’s potential viability via market & consumer research. Conception workshops (post forthcoming) can help formulate the product vision and initial feature set, leading to early creative and technical briefs that provide insights on potential team compositions and technical production challenges. In addition, SWOT exercises (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) can facilitate decision-making when evaluating multiple product directions.
In the PROCESS category, the focus is on establishing and implementing the initial team logistics (communication and project management tools & platforms), as well as an initial project management structure that supports experimentation at this early stage of the project while still ensuring accountability. Early processes are also stood up that identify and remove obstacles & distractions from the team. As the creative vision is formulated and business objectives & constraints are confirmed, an initial project roadmap is laid out. It can also be helpful to review, assess, or conduct retrospectives from previous or similar projects in order to identify and implement best practices applicable to the new project.
At the conclusion of the R&E phase, the team must pass the R&E Production Gate and the associated Project Kick-Off presentation to move into the Conceptual Development Phase.
