MMF, MVP, and MMR are terms commonly used in the context of software product development, particularly in agile methods like Scrum. People use these concepts synonymously but they are not the same. This article helps you to understand the key differences of MMF, MMR and MVP.
MMF (Minimally Marketable Feature):
An MMF is about a single feature instead of the entire product. A minimum marketable feature is a portion or subset of an overall feature, one that delivers value when released independently. It was introduced by Mark Denne and Jane Cleland-Huang in their book Software by Numbers.
That means, the MMF is not everything you may finally want in the feature, but it’s sufficient to get some feedback. The emphasis is on “marketable” which means that these features are essential and valuable enough to attract early adopters or customers.
MMF helps in prioritizing development efforts, ensuring that the most critical features are developed first, and the product can be brought to market faster.
MMR (Minimally Marketable Release):
MMR is similar to MMF in that it represents a set of features ready for release, but it focuses more on the “release” aspect rather than just the features. MMR is a version of the product that includes a subset of features considered valuable enough to release to the market. It’s a milestone in the development process where a significant set of features is completed and ready for deployment, typically to gain early feedback or start generating revenue. MMR may not necessarily include the bare minimum required for marketability like an MMF but represents a more substantial release compared to an MVP.
MVP (Minimum Viable Product):
An MVP is about the whole product. The term MVP comes from Eric Ries and his book The Lean Startup. MVP will have the minimum set of features required to satisfy early customers and gather maximum amount of information (feedback) with least amount of effort that helps for future product development. The goal of an MVP is to quickly validate assumptions about the whole product with the least amount of effort and resources. MVP helps in testing the market demand, understanding user needs, and iterating based on feedback to develop a more robust and market-ready product. It may not have all the features planned for the final product but includes enough to demonstrate its core value proposition.
Conclusion:
In summary, MMF defines the smallest set of features with market value, MVP is the minimum version of a product to validate assumptions and gather feedback, and MMR is a release milestone with a significant set of features ready for deployment. Each serves a distinct purpose in product development, from prioritization to validation and market entry.
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