Strengths and Weaknesses of Applying Lean Startup Methodology: Case Study of a Solar Startup in Kenya
(2019) EKHS32 20191Department of Economic History
- Abstract
- The aim of this exploratory research has been to examine the lean startup methodology process and foster a better way of applying this method in the global south. This is done by assessing the method’s application process of a solar startup targeting the Kenyan market - the strengths and weaknesses the company encountered during the process, measures taken by the company to overcome those weaknesses and the measures that work in the end. In combination with action research strategy, the research employed a qualitative single case study design, where 145 interviews were conducted with 92 respondents including customers, partner, outsiders and the company’s staff. The research found that the company’s application of the lean startup... (More)
- The aim of this exploratory research has been to examine the lean startup methodology process and foster a better way of applying this method in the global south. This is done by assessing the method’s application process of a solar startup targeting the Kenyan market - the strengths and weaknesses the company encountered during the process, measures taken by the company to overcome those weaknesses and the measures that work in the end. In combination with action research strategy, the research employed a qualitative single case study design, where 145 interviews were conducted with 92 respondents including customers, partner, outsiders and the company’s staff. The research found that the company’s application of the lean startup methodology does have a broader interpretation for better applying the method in the global south in terms of the method’s adaptation (to the specific company and global south context) and its corresponding tailored measures. Three key findings include (1) The biggest strength of the method is that it enables the entrepreneur to focus on customer development and thereby developing a market-based solution, while the biggest weakness is that one need to adapt the method into specific company and local context (apart from LSM original weakness). During this process, problems caused by the method’s design (duplicated validation, unmatured product, problems led by too much customers feedbacks and unpredictable number of interviews) and specific company and local context (missing social indicators, obstacles for approaching and interacting with customers and difficulties of making pivot decisions) emerged. (2) Taking appropriate measures can help entrepreneurs to overcome those weaknesses. (3) Among the 12 measures taken by the company, only 8 tailored measures were found working. It was found “whether it’s a tailored measure” was the main reason that differentiate the results. Overall, for entrepreneurs who are interested in markets in global South, the lean startup methodology provides a deeper understanding about the market and customers rather than a direct answer of the solution since customers cannot tell the company what the solution should look like, but they can share their feedbacks and thoughts of the proposed solution – whether it solves their problems or not. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8988585
- author
- Yang, Wenjing LU
- supervisor
-
- Barry Ness LU
- organization
- course
- EKHS32 20191
- year
- 2019
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- lean startup method, solar startup, Kenya, entrepreneurship in the global south
- language
- English
- id
- 8988585
- date added to LUP
- 2019-08-22 08:29:58
- date last changed
- 2019-08-22 08:29:58
@misc{8988585,
abstract = {{The aim of this exploratory research has been to examine the lean startup methodology process and foster a better way of applying this method in the global south. This is done by assessing the method’s application process of a solar startup targeting the Kenyan market - the strengths and weaknesses the company encountered during the process, measures taken by the company to overcome those weaknesses and the measures that work in the end. In combination with action research strategy, the research employed a qualitative single case study design, where 145 interviews were conducted with 92 respondents including customers, partner, outsiders and the company’s staff. The research found that the company’s application of the lean startup methodology does have a broader interpretation for better applying the method in the global south in terms of the method’s adaptation (to the specific company and global south context) and its corresponding tailored measures. Three key findings include (1) The biggest strength of the method is that it enables the entrepreneur to focus on customer development and thereby developing a market-based solution, while the biggest weakness is that one need to adapt the method into specific company and local context (apart from LSM original weakness). During this process, problems caused by the method’s design (duplicated validation, unmatured product, problems led by too much customers feedbacks and unpredictable number of interviews) and specific company and local context (missing social indicators, obstacles for approaching and interacting with customers and difficulties of making pivot decisions) emerged. (2) Taking appropriate measures can help entrepreneurs to overcome those weaknesses. (3) Among the 12 measures taken by the company, only 8 tailored measures were found working. It was found “whether it’s a tailored measure” was the main reason that differentiate the results. Overall, for entrepreneurs who are interested in markets in global South, the lean startup methodology provides a deeper understanding about the market and customers rather than a direct answer of the solution since customers cannot tell the company what the solution should look like, but they can share their feedbacks and thoughts of the proposed solution – whether it solves their problems or not.}},
author = {{Yang, Wenjing}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Strengths and Weaknesses of Applying Lean Startup Methodology: Case Study of a Solar Startup in Kenya}},
year = {{2019}},
}