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OP-002Acute
Discovery Deficit Syndrome
Also known as: False Start Pattern, Premature Build Syndrome
Operational PathologyFounder-induced
Key researchers: Tom Eisenmann, Steve Blank
Definition
An operational pathology where the organization fails to conduct adequate environmental sensing before committing resources. The organization acts before it can perceive, leading to systematic misallocation of effort.
Diagnostic Criteria
- Product development begins without customer discovery research
- MVP launches occur before validating core assumptions
- Multiple pivots happen in rapid succession
- Engineering-led roadmap without customer input
Symptoms
- Product development without customer research
- Premature MVP launches
- Engineering-led rather than customer-led roadmaps
- Multiple pivots in short succession
- Resource depletion from repeated false starts
Risk Factors
- Technical founders eager to build
- Lean startup misinterpretation (fail fast without learning)
- Pressure from investors to show progress
- Fear of idea being stolen
References
Additional Sources
- Eisenmann, T. (2021). Why Startups Fail: A New Roadmap for Entrepreneurial Success. Currency.
- Blank, S. (2013). Why the Lean Start-up Changes Everything. Harvard Business Review.
Known Cases
- Triangulate/Wings/DateBuzz - three major pivots in two years due to skipping customer discovery
Classification
- Code
- OP-002
- Localization
- Operational Pathology
- Primary Etiology
- Founder-induced
- Typical Course
- Acute
- Functional Impairment
- Sensing
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