Shifting from Outputs to Outcomes: Teresa Torres’s Guide to Continuous Discovery

In a recent LinkedIn post, Teresa Torres discusses the ongoing challenge of implementing continuous discovery practices within organizations, particularly highlighting the gap between reading about concepts and actively practicing them. She introduces a year-long initiative designed to help professionals move beyond theoretical understanding to practical application of these methods.

Torres frames the difficulty of driving change by stating:

“It can feel like you are the lone champion pushing for change in your organization.”

To address this, Torres has organized a group reading of her book, “Continuous Discovery Habits,” throughout 2026. This initiative, coinciding with the book’s fifth anniversary, aims to provide structured support for individuals and teams seeking to embed continuous discovery into their daily work. The program is designed to facilitate not just comprehension but active implementation.

The Importance of Moving Beyond Reading

Torres emphasizes that simply reading a book on product development or discovery is insufficient for true organizational change. The core of her initiative lies in bridging the ‘reading is not the same as doing’ chasm. She explains the structure of the monthly program, which includes reading guides, reflection questions, practical exercises, and short videos designed for team sharing.

The goal, as outlined by Torres, is for participants to achieve a state of active practice by the end of the year:

“By December, you won’t just understand continuous discovery—you’ll be practicing it.”

Focusing on Outcomes Over Outputs

A key theme explored in the current month’s reading, Chapter 3, is the critical industry shift from a focus on outputs to a focus on outcomes. Torres differentiates between business outcomes and product outcomes, a distinction crucial for aligning team efforts with strategic objectives. She also highlights the importance of making outcome setting a collaborative process.

The Shift to Outcomes

Torres argues that this shift is fundamental for modern product development. Instead of measuring success by the number of features shipped (outputs), the focus moves to the impact those features have on business goals and customer value (outcomes). This requires a deeper understanding of customer needs and market dynamics.

“This month’s reading covers Chapter 3. You’ll learn why the industry is shifting from a focus on outputs to outcomes, the difference between business outcomes and product outcomes, and how to making outcome setting a two-way negotiation.”

The initiative provides resources, including live discussion sessions, to foster a community of practice. This collaborative environment is intended to support practitioners as they navigate the complexities of outcome-based development and negotiation within their organizations.

Engaging the Community

Torres actively seeks to engage her audience by posing questions about their own organizational experiences with the output-to-outcome transition. She asks:

“Has your organization shifted from outputs to outcomes? What’s gone well? What’s been challenging? Share your experience in the comments.”

This approach not only encourages reflection among readers but also generates valuable insights and shared learning within the broader professional community. By facilitating these discussions, Torres aims to demystify continuous discovery and empower more organizations to adopt outcome-driven strategies.