It’s OK to cull seemingly good ideas with low impact. I’m not talking about politics, just research projects at work. I’m lucky to work somewhere that actively encourages this.
Yes, it’s disappointing to discover that an algorithm or product isn’t worth building. I’ve seen this especially demoralize early-career teammates who feel their career advancement depends on publishing or completing a discovery project that leads to a build.
But it’s a success to drop the doomed project early! You completed your goal (research) and reached a clear conclusion. You saved time, money, and effort. Your team is now free to focus on something that matters (or chase down the next shiny new thing!).
I’ve never seen this kind of “failed” discovery work celebrated or highlighted as a “win” on a resume.
Have you? If not, maybe it’s time to start.