Discovery vs Delivery
This series is about real-world UX: complex systems, trade-offs, constraints, and the decisions that shape experience long before pixels appear.
Episode 03: Discovery vs Delivery
Discovery vs Delivery
Discovery and delivery are not interchangeable phases. They serve fundamentally different purposes and when they are blurred, the consequences are structural.
Discovery exists to reduce uncertainty. It asks: What problem is worth solving? Which risks matter? What assumptions might be wrong?
Delivery exists to execute decisions efficiently. It optimizes for speed, alignment, and output.
When discovery is compressed into delivery timelines, learning becomes validation. Questions are shaped around pre-approved solutions. Research is performed, but it no longer has the power to challenge the roadmap.
In the case explored in this episode, embedding research directly into development sprints created the appearance of continuous learning. The system shipped on time but the core assumptions driving the product were never examined. The result: efficient delivery, systemic misalignment.
Understanding this distinction is critical for any serious UX diagnostic.
If discovery cannot question decisions, it is no longer discovery.
Key idea: Blurring discovery and delivery may feel efficient, but it compounds long-term UX and business risk.