Questions about The Next Generation of Software and Innovation

Chris HofmannIreland Sept. 2009chofmann@mozilla.org

The key is for each new business to define the things that are important for their users, and stay focused on those things

“Make Great Software”, then figure out the business model. (not allows possible, but worth the effort)

For Mozilla we have 6 basic tough questions

Our 6 tough questions

Is it secure and safe enough? Is the web and the browser fast enough? Is it easy to use? Is it “interoperable / compatible” enough? Does it reach enough people, on enough

devices, and in enough languages? Is it a useful and does it aid navigation to

content ? Innovation is about trying 100's of things to find

2 or 3 good answers

To Innovate

• Repair the 'bad' choices from the past– Simplify

– Throw stuff out

• Look for Opportunities in the 6 Questions– Habits and needs change and evolve

– Tab Browsing Example

– What Worked for 6 Tabs doesn't work for 40

Great Software:

Solves a Real Problem

Simplifies, Speeds, Puts Users in Control

Provides a good collection of choices

About Choice• From the books

“Nudge” and “Blink” and “Sway”

• Humans Not Wired to Make Good Choices

• Reactive v. Contemplative Decisions

• Choice Order Matters

• Software “Choice Architects” Can Help

How does this all fit together?

An Economic Model of Engagement and

New dimensions of Openness

Get users to provide data

Get users to participate in your “network”

These are basic premises of many Cloud Computing, Social Networks, SaaS applications across the software industry....

Both of these are heavily reliant on trust, openness, commitment and demonstrated ability to “not be evil”

Expanding Dimensions of Openness

Product hot____ <___notDistribution Grass Roots ConventionalProduct as Platform Open ClosedPublic Asset FLOSSDecision Making Distributed Centralized

Participatory ExclusivePeer Review

Communication Open SecretiveProduct Planning Open/RFC ClosedOrg Structure Starfish Spider

Propritary

Devel. Approach

How Open is YourProduct?

How Open is Your Org?

Hundreds of Chances to be “Open” each day

Creating Open (Trusted) Organizations is Hard

Its made of 1000's of decisions

made in many different dimensions

over many years.

Keep asking the questions every day.

How Open/Transparent/Observable/Engaging is Our Organization?

How Well Are We Serving Our Users?

Thanks!

Questions or Commentschofmann@mozilla.org