Lean Analytics by Alistair Croll and Benjamin Yoskovitz is part of The Lean Series offered by O’Reilly Media. In this book you will learn how to figure out your business model and your stage of growth. You will then be challenged to find the One Metric That Matters to you right now, and how to draw a line in the sand so you know when to “step on the gas and when to slam on the brakes.”
Although this book is primarily for start-ups you can apply the principles outlined by Croll and Yoskovitz in any company, division, or department you find yourself. The practice of lean analytics will speed you on your way to success with new projects, products, and business development verticals.
First, pinpoint your business model. Several of the business models covered here are:
- E-Commerce
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Free Mobile App
- User-Generated Content
- and more.
Next you’re encouraged to find the stage you are in. This will be one of the following five:
- Empathy
- Stickiness
- Virality
- Revenue
- Scale
These two elements will then determine the one key metric you should measure most at this time. Setting a goal, or as the authors say–drawing a line in the sand, will help you see how well you are doing as you measure and track progress.
The book is full of good data, reports, and case studies. The principles you will be applying are not pie-in-the-sky but practical and tested by numerous organizations.
If you have read some of The Lean Series, this is a must addition as it expands on topics you may have already heard about. If you have not read this book and you are, or want to apply lean principles to your work place pick up a copy today.