How can global companies like Apple and Google effectively test new ideas before launching them to avoid potential pitfalls?

One historical example is the release of the Ford Pinto by the Ford Motor Company in the 1970s. The car had a design flaw that made it prone to catching fire in rear-end collisions. This led to numerous lawsuits and a damaged reputation for the company. Another example is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, released in 2016. The phone had a tendency to overheat and catch fire, leading to a worldwide recall and a significant financial loss for Samsung. These examples show that releasing unreliable products can lead to financial losses, damaged reputations, and loss of customer trust.

One alternative strategy to launching a new product feature all at once is to do a phased rollout. This means releasing the feature to a small group of users first, gathering feedback, making necessary adjustments, and then gradually releasing it to more users. Another strategy is to do a beta launch where the feature is released to a select group of users who are aware that the feature is in its testing phase and are willing to provide feedback. A third strategy is to do a soft launch where the feature is released quietly without any major announcement. This allows for testing and tweaking before a full-scale launch.