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The Chicken Manifesto: Difference between revisions
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=The Chicken Manifesto - 7 Theses for a standardized SaaS Industry= | =The Chicken Manifesto - 7 Theses for a standardized SaaS Industry= | ||
==1. Standards are good== | ===1. Standards are good=== | ||
The reason why you can travel around the world, eat food without fear of getting sick, use your bank card at any ATM or fill up your car at any gas station is Standardization. Standards make our world easier, better, and safer. | The reason why you can travel around the world, eat food without fear of getting sick, use your bank card at any ATM or fill up your car at any gas station is Standardization. Standards make our world easier, better, and safer. | ||
==2. Standards give us a common language== | ===2. Standards give us a common language=== | ||
Ambiguity and vagueness lead to misalignment and lack of clarity. There are currently at least four different widely adopted ways to calculate Churn Rates. The Churn Rate is used to calculate Customer Lifetime Value, and the Customer Lifetime Value makes or breaks a SaaS Business. Real money, real people, real lives are at stake. | Ambiguity and vagueness lead to misalignment and lack of clarity. There are currently at least four different widely adopted ways to calculate Churn Rates. The Churn Rate is used to calculate Customer Lifetime Value, and the Customer Lifetime Value makes or breaks a SaaS Business. Real money, real people, real lives are at stake. | ||
==3. Standards allow innovation on a higher level== | ===3. Standards allow innovation on a higher level=== | ||
We can’t invent a new car when everyone is busy reinventing the wheel. Once the basic elements of our industry are defined, we can focus our creative minds on solving problems on higher levels. Standardization drives innovation. | We can’t invent a new car when everyone is busy reinventing the wheel. Once the basic elements of our industry are defined, we can focus our creative minds on solving problems on higher levels. Standardization drives innovation. | ||
==4. Standards reduce waste, variation, and risk== | ===4. Standards reduce waste, variation, and risk=== | ||
Fast food franchises have a success rate of 92% - SaaS businesses have a failure rate of 92%. | Fast food franchises have a success rate of 92% - SaaS businesses have a failure rate of 92%. | ||
The main difference is that the former is highly standardized, and the latter is not. | The main difference is that the former is highly standardized, and the latter is not. | ||
We need people in SaaS to know what to do, how to do it, and in which order. Standards reduce waste, cut costs and ensure consistency of our processes, services, and products. This leads to more predictable outcomes, which we can reach faster. | We need people in SaaS to know what to do, how to do it, and in which order. Standards reduce waste, cut costs and ensure consistency of our processes, services, and products. This leads to more predictable outcomes, which we can reach faster. | ||
==5. Standards increase skill levels and reduce ramp-up times== | ===5. Standards increase skill levels and reduce ramp-up times=== | ||
When switching employers, SaaS people should not need to re-learn their vocabulary, skills, processes, and procedures. Employers should be enabled to hire more efficiently by being able to validate skill levels. Vocational training and job titles should become more consistent across the industry. Open standards also make workplaces inherently less toxic. | When switching employers, SaaS people should not need to re-learn their vocabulary, skills, processes, and procedures. Employers should be enabled to hire more efficiently by being able to validate skill levels. Vocational training and job titles should become more consistent across the industry. Open standards also make workplaces inherently less toxic. | ||
==6. It’s on us - No one else will save us== | ===6. Standards must be open, consensual, and fair=== | ||
No one can do this alone. No one has all the answers. The Standards for SaaS ought to be built out in the open, together, inclusive for anyone to see, contribute and participate. It’s a process of sharing best practices, defining terms, discussing solutions, and distributing common understanding. | |||
===7. It’s on us - No one else will save us=== | |||
Standards are created through market battles (e.g., VHS vs. Betamax), through Government intervention (e.g., laws and regulations), or through voluntarily created committees. | Standards are created through market battles (e.g., VHS vs. Betamax), through Government intervention (e.g., laws and regulations), or through voluntarily created committees. | ||
No market leader and no government will come and save us. We, the people of SaaS, have to come together and define our own standards. No one else will save us. | No market leader and no government will come and save us. We, the people of SaaS, have to come together and define our own standards. No one else will save us. | ||