In this episode of Breakthrough Innovation, we’re joined by Tony Ulwick, founder and CEO of Strategyn and the pioneer behind Outcome-Driven Innovation (ODI), a proven approach that helps companies predict product success with greater precision. Tony shares his journey from his early days as a mechanical engineer at IBM to becoming a leading voice in the world of product development and innovation.

Tony discusses the key principles of ODI, which shifts the focus from product features to customer outcomes. He explains how understanding customer "jobs to be done" leads to more impactful, market-ready solutions and drastically reduces the risks associated with product development. With insights drawn from his work at Strategyn, Tony provides a roadmap for how businesses can align their teams around measurable outcomes to ensure their innovations succeed.

In this episode, you'll hear Tony’s take on why so many products fail and how ODI addresses these challenges by making product development more predictable and focused on what customers truly need. This episode is a must-listen for product managers, innovators, and entrepreneurs looking to create products that resonate with the market.

Key Lessons Covered in This Episode:

From Engineer to Innovation Expert:

Tony reflects on his evolution from mechanical engineer to founder of Strategyn and how his experiences shaped his approach to product innovation.

The Power of Outcome-Driven Innovation (ODI):

Discover how ODI shifts the focus from product features to real customer outcomes and why this approach leads to more successful products.

Jobs to Be Done Framework:

Tony explains how understanding the customer’s job rather than focusing on the product itself can lead to more effective and impactful innovation.

The Role of Predictability in Product Development:

Learn how ODI helps companies predict product success with greater accuracy, reducing the risk of failure.

Aligning Teams for Innovation:

Tony shares how aligning teams around customer outcomes rather than product features ensures better collaboration and more effective product development.

Lessons from Product Failures:

With lessons drawn from his experience working on the IBM PCjr, Tony offers insights on why products fail and how businesses can avoid these pitfalls.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Focusing on customer outcomes rather than product features is the key to successful product development.

✅ ODI helps teams align around customer needs, making innovation more predictable and less risky.

✅ Understanding the "jobs to be done" framework leads to products that truly resonate with customers.

✅ Predicting success in product development is possible with the right approach and methodology.

Links And Resources:

• Connect with Tony Ulwick on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tonyulwick
• Websites: strategyn.com (Company) jobs-to-be-done.com (Company)my.strategyn.com (Company)linkedin.com/in/jclandivar572