Applying Apple's Framework for Avoiding Mediocrity

Applying Apple's Framework for Avoiding Mediocrity(sarthakjain.com)

20 points by sarthakjain 5 years ago | 13 comments

Is this an official framework Apple actually uses? The article makes it sound this way. If not, this is a bit deceptive even if its true in observation

sparky_ 5 years ago | |

Anecdotally, I worked at Apple, as a software engineer, and I've never heard of this, or anything like it. I would characterize the actual attitude more as - we have to say no to a lot of good ideas, so that we can go 110% on the great ones.

johnwalkr 5 years ago | |

This seems like a useful model for this company. Actually, I really like it. In my work there is often a huge gap between "minimum requirements" and "

But it doesn't really match my observations for Apple. Safari? One of the best for privacy features and energy usage. iCloud? They stumbled a lot on this but iCloud for photos is arguably the best. iCloud for backups and synching devices is the best. It's a breeze to setup a new phone or laptop. Literally just login. iCloud for collaboration works well but nobody uses it because it's not the de facto standard. There is obviously a ton of people working on these things and I can't imagine internally they are targeting bare minimum for these.

I would argue that there is only 2 categories at Apple: "won't do", and "better than the best". Of course, that doesn't mean "better than the best" is always or even often achieved. And Mac Pro seems to aim too high, such that is amazing by some metric (but not others) each generation, and then out of date for a decade as it's essentially a high tooling-cost, low volume product.

And, vertical integration and integration of services with their devices is kind of orthogonal to these types of categories and more important to explain Apple. Apple notes app is not the best, and iCloud may not be the best. But having notes on all of my devices is the best. And they don't even advertise this feature, it's more of a retention strategy.

enos_feedler 5 years ago | | |

I actually think the model works well for Apple and matches my observation. I was more just commenting on the usage of "Apple's Framework" in the title. It implies this is something that Apple uses.

itsdrewmiller 5 years ago | |

The article specifically says it isn’t associated with Apple - the title is just clickbait nonsense.

mistersquid 5 years ago |

> Once Apple noticed a new innovative product that was gaining traction (the Bragi Dash on kickstarter, and possibly before this) they created a best in class product the Apple Air Pods.

Apple Airpods debuted in 2016. The Bragi Dash Kickstarter dates from 2017. Besides which, Apple products are years in the making.

The OP provides no evidence that such an heuristic is used at Apple, and I’ve never seen this “framework” referenced anywhere besides this post.

The framework may have value in of itself, but the connection to Apple is tenuous and unsubstantiated.

psutor 5 years ago | |

A quick look at the Bragi Dash Kickstarter shows it was started in February 2014 and had raised nearly $3.4MM by March 31, 2014. It looks like it finally shipped in early 2016 (original promise late 2014).

sarthakjain 5 years ago |

OP here have modified the title to remove the confusion and added an explicit note to avoid any misrepresentation.

PaulHoule 5 years ago |

Something necessary might be something you want to do, but if it has to be done it is important by definition.

mlthoughts2018 5 years ago |

Just a reminder to all the product managers and budding executives who will read this: you are not Apple.

You don’t have a world class consumer computer business, mobile device business, entertainment products business, app store business, etc. etc. to fall back on when you decide to do the bare minimum.

The difference between average & bare minimum for you is the difference between going bust vs. holding steady, or the difference between mass layoffs vs. hiring freeze, or the difference between giving raises and not.

Don’t go off thinking you are a maverick tastemaking Steve Jobs who can toss out “do the bare minimum” as some savant-like wisdom.

4WIW 5 years ago | |

I think you are misinterpreting the article. Whether you are Apple or not, you have to prioritize.

If you are doing 2 features, and cannot both well enough, then it's better to do one (important) extremely well and one (less important) just to get by, than do two mediocre features. In the former case, you will get at least some happy users who will talk about you and hopefully get you more sales. In the latter case, nobody would vouch for you and mediocrity will drive you into oblivion.

mlthoughts2018 5 years ago | | |

I think you are wrong. For a company like Apple, prioritization might work that way. But for many other companies you really do have to put effort into two mediocre solutions, for all kinds of reasons.

It’s not visionary or smart to apply a priority scheme cargo culted from a massive outlier (Apple) and claim it’s appropriate in all kinds of other situations. Especially without evidence.

It’s just a glib platitude for someone to sound smart.

rramadass 5 years ago | |

Thank You for the much needed Sanity Check !