Product management: put the feedback loop at the heart of IT projects.

Any IT project involves a significant portion of your company's employees. The complexity of these projects requires the implementation of a genuine product management strategy. An effective feedback loop is essential throughout the life of the application. It guarantees the effectiveness of development, the respect of the needs of end users, and therefore the adoption of new tools.

1. The feedback loop, a powerful tool for continuous improvement

The feedback loop is a feedback loop in which user feedback is used and analyzed to improve development practices. It is part of a continuous improvement process. During a project, the feedback loop ensures greater efficiency. It also makes it possible to optimize the next project thanks to feedback.

2. Optimizing development

Whether it's about develop dedicated software from A to Z or to customize a commercial application, the work of developers is essential to ensure the proper functioning of the IT solution. This includes a testing phase by end users. It makes it possible to detect bugs in real situations and to improve the ergonomics of the tools in order to guarantee their future adoption.

In this test phase, effective communication between the testers and the IT department must be ensured by setting up a feedback management tool. Every user feedback should be used not only to meet the immediate need, but also to better anticipate new demands. The virtuous circle of the feedback loop is then put in place.

3. Ensure the adequacy between the needs and the solutions proposed

Feedback from end users makes it possible to ensure that the tools offered correspond to their needs. This information is crucial during the development phase. They remain relevant during deployment, and throughout the duration of use of the application. Indeed, practices and needs may change. In addition, collaborative intelligence can lead to the emergence of new requests, and involve modifying certain tools or creating new ones.

This requires a permanent dialogue between end users, managers and IT. The feedback loop plays its full role in this continuous improvement strategy. User feedback allows developers to better understand their needs and practices and to take them into account effectively in the development of new tools.

4. Monitor the level of user adoption

Feedback is not only of technical interest. They also reflect the degree of adoption of software tools by end users. Feedback that indicates a misappropriation of functionalities should also be included in the feedback loop.

This valuable feedback must have immediate answers (repeat training courses, improve user documentation, or even modify the tool to make it more ergonomic and adapted). But it should also make it possible to improve communication for the next stages of deployment, as well as for future projects. Thus, feedback allows for continuous improvement of practices for developing and implementing new applications.

In your product management strategy, the feedback loop plays a central role. So do not hesitate to set up a feedback management tool that will allow IT and end users to contribute together to the success of your new applications!