Should Savvas Learning prioritize developing more interactive features for its myPerspectives digital platform or focus on improving the print materials to better serve schools with limited technology access?

Introduction

The trade-off question at hand is whether Savvas Learning should prioritize developing more interactive features for its myPerspectives digital platform or focus on improving print materials to better serve schools with limited technology access. This scenario involves balancing digital innovation with traditional print resources, considering the diverse needs of educational institutions. I'll approach this analysis by examining the product ecosystem, stakeholder impacts, and potential outcomes of each option.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm thinking about the current market landscape for educational materials. Could you provide more information on the split between schools using primarily digital vs. print resources?

Why it matters: Helps understand the potential impact and market size for each option. Expected answer: Roughly 60% digital, 40% print. Impact on approach: A more even split would suggest a balanced strategy, while a heavy skew would prioritize that format.

• Business Context: Based on Savvas Learning's business model, I assume there's a subscription component for the digital platform. Is this correct, and how does it compare to print material sales in terms of revenue?

Why it matters: Informs the financial implications of focusing on either option. Expected answer: Digital subscriptions are growing but print still accounts for significant revenue. Impact on approach: Would help determine if there's a strategic push towards digital or a need to maintain print revenue.

• User Impact: I'm curious about user engagement metrics. Do we have data on how interactive features in myPerspectives correlate with student performance or teacher satisfaction?

Why it matters: Helps quantify the value of investing in more interactive features. Expected answer: Moderate positive correlation with both metrics. Impact on approach: Strong correlation would support prioritizing interactive features.

• Technical: Regarding the myPerspectives platform, what's our current technical capacity for adding new interactive features? Are there any major infrastructure limitations?

Why it matters: Assesses the feasibility and potential timeline for digital enhancements. Expected answer: Some capacity, but would require additional resources for significant expansion. Impact on approach: Limited capacity might favor focusing on print improvements in the short term.

• Resource: Can you give me an idea of the current team structure and expertise? Are we more staffed towards digital development or print material creation?

Why it matters: Helps understand internal capabilities and potential resource allocation. Expected answer: Balanced team with slightly more digital expertise. Impact on approach: Would influence whether we need to hire or retrain for either option.