The MVP concept is about more than quickly building a product; it's about minimizing time through the build->measure->learn loop.  I sense that this is often misunderstood or forgotten.

Here in Startup Land, Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a very popular term.  Most people use it to describe the most pared down site/service that customers will use/buy.  Entrepreneurs debate exactly what counts as minimum or viable but often the conversation's focus is exclusively on features and user needs.  They would do well to remember original thesis of MVP.

The point of the MVP strategy is to gain accurate customer feedback in a speedy manner and to use that information to iterate on the product.  In Eric Ries's The Lean Startup, he emphasizes that MVP is about minimizing time through the build->measure->learn cycle. When founders focus only on the build component, they may be forfeiting the opportunity to learn.  Without optimizing the entire learning process, they will lack crucial data needed to inform the next iteration of the product.

Next time you're discussing MVP or debating the scope of a new product, remember the importance of learning.