The Progress Board is a tool used to manage lean startup experiments and measure business progress. It involves extracting key hypotheses, designing tests to validate or invalidate hypotheses, moving test cards as experiments are conducted, capturing learnings, and defining if progress was made, a pivot is needed, or more testing is required. The overall goal is to avoid failure by testing business ideas through experiments before fully committing resources.
1. The Progress Board
Business
Hypotheses
!
!
!
!
!
Test: Backlog Test: Build
Invalidated
Unclear Results
Validated
Test: Measure Test: Learn Progress
copyright: Strategyzer AG
The makers of Business Model Generation and Strategyzer strategyzer.com
21 43
List the key assumptions that need to be
true for your idea to work. Prioritize the most
critical ones that could kill your business.
The tests and experiments that
you intend to perform
The tests and experiments that are
being planned, designed, or built.
The tests and experiments that are
currently running and collecting data.
The tests and experiments that were
executed, collected data, and are
ready to be analyzed.
Your validation criteria step-by-step.
Back to the drawing board
Iterate or Pivot your design
Design another test, and
learn more before making a decision
Advance to the next step,
move on in your quest to make ideas reality
?
Try Now!
2. ?
Do you have a tool to help me
manage and track my lean startup
experiments, measure progress,
and avoid failure?
. Test those first!
4. Progress
Board
Concept
Test Card
We believe that
Test Name
Assigned to
Deadline
Duration
And measure
To verify that, we will
We are right if
The makers of Business Model Generation and StrategyzerCopyright Business Model Foundry AG
Test Cost: Data Reliability:
Critical:
Time Required:
Test Card
We believe that
Test Name
Assigned to
Deadline
Duration
And measure
To verify that, we will
We are right if
The makers of Business Model Generation and StrategyzerCopyright Business Model Foundry AG
Test Cost: Data Reliability:
Critical:
Time Required:
Test Card
We believe that
Test Name
Assigned to
Deadline
Duration
And measure
To verify that, we will
We are right if
The makers of Business Model Generation and StrategyzerCopyright Business Model Foundry AG
Test Cost: Data Reliability:
Critical:
Time Required:
5A
INVALIDATED
backlog build measure learn done
5B
LEARN MORE
5C
VALIDATED
back to the drawing
board: iterate or pivot
your design
advance to next step:
move on in your quest to
turn your idea into reality
4
Tests
Test Card
Learning
Card
Learning
Card
Learning
Card
Learning
Card
Learning
Card
Learning
Card
Learning
Card
Test Card
Test Card
Test Card
Test Card
Test Card
Test Card
Test Card
Test Card
Test Card
5
Insights
and Actions
6
Measure progress
2
Extract your
Hypotheses
3
Design your tests
1
(re)Shape
your ideas
(6)
5. The Progress Board
Business
Hypotheses
!
!
!
!
!
Test: Backlog Test: Build
Invalidated
Unclear Results
Validated
Test: Measure Test: Learn Progress
copyright: Strategyzer AG
The makers of Business Model Generation and Strategyzer strategyzer.com
21 43
List the key assumptions that need to be
true for your idea to work. Prioritize the most
critical ones that could kill your business.
The tests and experiments that
you intend to perform
The tests and experiments that are
being planned, designed, or built.
The tests and experiments that are
currently running and collecting data.
The tests and experiments that were
executed, collected data, and are
ready to be analyzed.
Your validation criteria step-by-step.
Back to the drawing board
Iterate or Pivot your design
Design another test, and
learn more before making a decision
Advance to the next step,
move on in your quest to make ideas reality
?
6. The Progress Board
Business
Hypotheses
!
!
!
!
!
Test: Backlog Test: Build
Invalidated
Unclear Results
Validated
Test: Measure Test: Learn Progress
copyright: Strategyzer AG
The makers of Business Model Generation and Strategyzer strategyzer.com
21 43
List the key assumptions that need to be
true for your idea to work. Prioritize the most
critical ones that could kill your business.
The tests and experiments that
you intend to perform
The tests and experiments that are
being planned, designed, or built.
The tests and experiments that are
currently running and collecting data.
The tests and experiments that were
executed, collected data, and are
ready to be analyzed.
Your validation criteria step-by-step.
Back to the drawing board
Iterate or Pivot your design
Design another test, and
learn more before making a decision
Advance to the next step,
move on in your quest to make ideas reality
?
e.g. FIRST
INTERVIEWS
e.g.
CANVASES
e.g. FIRST
CALL-TO-
ACTIONS
e.g. TESTING
PURCHASE
Define
what
“progress”
means
to
you
and
add
indicators
7. The Progress Board
Business
Hypotheses
!
!
!
!
!
Test: Backlog Test: Build
Invalidated
Unclear Results
Validated
Test: Measure Test: Learn Progress
copyright: Strategyzer AG
The makers of Business Model Generation and Strategyzer strategyzer.com
21 43
List the key assumptions that need to be
true for your idea to work. Prioritize the most
critical ones that could kill your business.
The tests and experiments that
you intend to perform
The tests and experiments that are
being planned, designed, or built.
The tests and experiments that are
currently running and collecting data.
The tests and experiments that were
executed, collected data, and are
ready to be analyzed.
Your validation criteria step-by-step.
Back to the drawing board
Iterate or Pivot your design
Design another test, and
learn more before making a decision
Advance to the next step,
move on in your quest to make ideas reality
?
e.g. FIRST
INTERVIEWS
e.g.
CANVASES
e.g. FIRST
CALL-TO-
ACTIONS
e.g. TESTING
PURCHASE
Add
your
most
cri8cal
hypotheses
in
order
of
importance
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
8. The Progress Board
Business
Hypotheses
!
!
!
!
!
Test: Backlog Test: Build
Invalidated
Unclear Results
Validated
Test: Measure Test: Learn Progress
copyright: Strategyzer AG
The makers of Business Model Generation and Strategyzer strategyzer.com
21 43
List the key assumptions that need to be
true for your idea to work. Prioritize the most
critical ones that could kill your business.
The tests and experiments that
you intend to perform
The tests and experiments that are
being planned, designed, or built.
The tests and experiments that are
currently running and collecting data.
The tests and experiments that were
executed, collected data, and are
ready to be analyzed.
Your validation criteria step-by-step.
Back to the drawing board
Iterate or Pivot your design
Design another test, and
learn more before making a decision
Advance to the next step,
move on in your quest to make ideas reality
?
e.g. FIRST
INTERVIEWS
e.g.
CANVASES
e.g. FIRST
CALL-TO-
ACTIONS
e.g. TESTING
PURCHASE
Use
Test
Cards
to
design
experiments/
tests
to
(in)validate
each
hypothesis
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
9. The Progress Board
Business
Hypotheses
!
!
!
!
!
Test: Backlog Test: Build
Invalidated
Unclear Results
Validated
Test: Measure Test: Learn Progress
copyright: Strategyzer AG
The makers of Business Model Generation and Strategyzer strategyzer.com
21 43
List the key assumptions that need to be
true for your idea to work. Prioritize the most
critical ones that could kill your business.
The tests and experiments that
you intend to perform
The tests and experiments that are
being planned, designed, or built.
The tests and experiments that are
currently running and collecting data.
The tests and experiments that were
executed, collected data, and are
ready to be analyzed.
Your validation criteria step-by-step.
Back to the drawing board
Iterate or Pivot your design
Design another test, and
learn more before making a decision
Advance to the next step,
move on in your quest to make ideas reality
?
e.g. FIRST
INTERVIEWS
e.g.
CANVASES
e.g. FIRST
CALL-TO-
ACTIONS
e.g. TESTING
PURCHASE
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
Move
your
Test
Cards
while
you
are
making
progress
with
your
experiments
10. The Progress Board
Business
Hypotheses
!
!
!
!
!
Test: Backlog Test: Build
Invalidated
Unclear Results
Validated
Test: Measure Test: Learn Progress
copyright: Strategyzer AG
The makers of Business Model Generation and Strategyzer strategyzer.com
21 43
List the key assumptions that need to be
true for your idea to work. Prioritize the most
critical ones that could kill your business.
The tests and experiments that
you intend to perform
The tests and experiments that are
being planned, designed, or built.
The tests and experiments that are
currently running and collecting data.
The tests and experiments that were
executed, collected data, and are
ready to be analyzed.
Your validation criteria step-by-step.
Back to the drawing board
Iterate or Pivot your design
Design another test, and
learn more before making a decision
Advance to the next step,
move on in your quest to make ideas reality
?
e.g. FIRST
INTERVIEWS
e.g.
CANVASES
e.g. FIRST
CALL-TO-
ACTIONS
e.g. TESTING
PURCHASE
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
Capture
your
insights
with
the
Learning
Card
11. The Progress Board
Business
Hypotheses
!
!
!
!
!
Test: Backlog Test: Build
Invalidated
Unclear Results
Validated
Test: Measure Test: Learn Progress
copyright: Strategyzer AG
The makers of Business Model Generation and Strategyzer strategyzer.com
21 43
List the key assumptions that need to be
true for your idea to work. Prioritize the most
critical ones that could kill your business.
The tests and experiments that
you intend to perform
The tests and experiments that are
being planned, designed, or built.
The tests and experiments that are
currently running and collecting data.
The tests and experiments that were
executed, collected data, and are
ready to be analyzed.
Your validation criteria step-by-step.
Back to the drawing board
Iterate or Pivot your design
Design another test, and
learn more before making a decision
Advance to the next step,
move on in your quest to make ideas reality
?
e.g. FIRST
INTERVIEWS
e.g.
CANVASES
e.g. FIRST
CALL-TO-
ACTIONS
e.g. TESTING
PURCHASE
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
Define
if
you
made
progress,
need
to
pivot,
or
test
more
12. The Progress Board
Business
Hypotheses
!
!
!
!
!
Test: Backlog Test: Build
Invalidated
Unclear Results
Validated
Test: Measure Test: Learn Progress
copyright: Strategyzer AG
The makers of Business Model Generation and Strategyzer strategyzer.com
21 43
List the key assumptions that need to be
true for your idea to work. Prioritize the most
critical ones that could kill your business.
The tests and experiments that
you intend to perform
The tests and experiments that are
being planned, designed, or built.
The tests and experiments that are
currently running and collecting data.
The tests and experiments that were
executed, collected data, and are
ready to be analyzed.
Your validation criteria step-by-step.
Back to the drawing board
Iterate or Pivot your design
Design another test, and
learn more before making a decision
Advance to the next step,
move on in your quest to make ideas reality
?
Try Now!