This is a dynamic, quick way to test a variety of different ideas. The premise is that there is some underlying automation that requires technology, but rather than build the tech, you can deliver similar results with human effort behind the scenes.
Imagine you want to develop a product that will make smart recommendations based on user input.
Example: User enters that they are working on a project to reduce litter in a local community. You want your product to give the user recommendations of other organizations that are doing similar work. Rather than develop algorithms and data bases, you do some manual Google searches and send them an email with a few links.
This approach obviously does not scale to millions or even thousands of users. But that’s okay. That’s not the point.
The point of this method is to see if what you’re building fits a need and to see how users will interact with it. In order to answer these essential questions and gather meaningful feedback, you have to do things that don’t scale.
So before you invest in lots of technology, make sure it’s the right technology. Make the magic happen behind the scenes.