STOP, COLLABORATE & LISTENThe Art of Smart Product DesignInternet Week New York | May 22, 2014 | #SmartProductDan Maccarone | @danmaccarone

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Hi! My name is Dan.I run a company called Charming Robot.

Here are some things I’ve worked on...

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IN ONE WORD,WHAT IS COLLABORATION?

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BRAINSTORMINGWORKING TOGETHER

COOPERATION

KNOWLEDGE SHARING

SHARED GOALS

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LISTENING

BRAINSTORMINGWORKING TOGETHER

COOPERATION

KNOWLEDGE SHARING

SHARED GOALS

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COLLABORATION IS NOT A NEW THING

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“It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”—Charles Darwin

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THE TEAM

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"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team."- Phil Jackson

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COLLABORATION IS NOT...

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NOR IS IT...

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NOR...

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IT’S MORE LIKE...

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OR EVEN BETTER...

Developers

Visual Designers User Experience Designers

Marketing Department

Business Development

Quality Assurance

Project Managers

Copy WritersProduct Manager

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CLEARLY DEFINE EVERYONE’S ROLE

Developers

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RESPECT & LEVERAGE INDIVIDUAL EXPERTISE

Developers

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BUT DON’T FLAUNT YOUR OWN

Developers

EGO

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ESTABLISH CLEAR GOALS & ENSURE THE TEAM UNDERSTANDS THEM

Developers

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GREAT IDEAS CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE

Developers

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GREAT IDEAS CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE

Developers

AND THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT ANSWER

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CHALLENGE IDEAS TO CREATE BETTER ONES

Developers

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THE PRODUCT SHOULD EVOLVE THROUGH EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS

Developers

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FEEDBACK

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“The secret is to gang up on the problem, rather than each other.”—Thomas Stallkamp

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EVERYONE STRUGGLES TO GIVE USEFUL FEEDBACK

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START WITH WHAT WORKS

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ALWAYS BE ACTIONABLE

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Phrases to avoid:

I’ll know it when I see it.

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Phrases to avoid:

I hate that!

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Phrases to avoid:

I just don’t like blue.

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Phrases to avoid:

Ehhhhhhhhhh.

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Phrases to avoid:

Ehhhhhhhhhh.* Actually, avoid all vague noises in general

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OFFER SOLUTIONS

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BE HONEST WITHOUT BEING INSULTING

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PROVIDE CONTEXT TO YOUR THOUGHTS

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KEEP IT DIRECT, NOT BY PROXY

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KEEP IT A CONVERSATION

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“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” —Henry Ford

Q&A

THANK YOUIT’S BEEN A PLEASUREDan Maccarone | @danmaccarone