5. The Use of a Product Development Methodology to Measure Sales
Using the product development diagram for Customer Development activities is like using a clock to
tell the temperature. They both measure something, but not the thing you wanted.
Figure 1.2 shows what the product development diagram looks like from a sales perspective. A
VP of Sales looks at the diagram and says, “Hmm, if beta test is on this date, I’d better get a small
sales team in place before that date to acquire my first ‘early customers.’ And if first customer ship is
on this date over here, then I need to hire and staff a sales organization by then.” Why? “Well,
because the revenue plan we promised the investors shows us generating customer revenue from the
day of first customer ship.”