# I hate the MVP culture

- Link: https://www.andreidraganescu.info/2017/03/28/i-hate-the-mvp-culture/
- Published: 2017-03-28T14:30:49+03:00
- Author: Andrei Draganescu

![](https://draganescu.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/f5b82-1qk5ake8avu1-dts_xq6m-q.
jpeg)

> In [product development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_product_development),
> the **minimum viable product** (**MVP**) is a product with just enough features
> to gather validated learning about the product and its continued development. (
> the wiki)

This is what happens when efficiency concepts permeate culture.

The MVP, **a good idea** _gone bad_:

 * Tinder the MVP of dating
 * Online dating as the MVP of courtship
 * Facebook the MVP of friendship
 * The feed is the MVP of information
 * Tweets are the MVP of news
 * Blogging, the MVP of journalism
 * Kanban, the MVP of WBS
 * The sprint, the MVP of the Gantt
 * Soylent, the MVP of healthy eating
 * Listicles, the MVP of advice

I could go on forever.

Thank God there is no MVP brain surgeon, MVP plane, MVP nuclear power.

Yet.

But MVP is not a new idea:

 * Libertarianism, the MVP of society
 * Communism, the MVP of equality

Here is the thing:

 1. MVP is compromise
 2. Compromise is debt
 3. Debt is certain future
 4. Certainty lowers awareness

> MVP misses the big picture on the long term.

.