Topics Covered:
- The Big Question: Can product and project models run side by side?
- Defining the Operating Models: Breakdown of product vs. project models. Why outcomes vs. outputs matter.
- Why the Shift Happened: How the history of software delivery shaped our current challenges.
- When Project Models Still Make Sense: Examples like GDPR, accessibility, and other one-off initiatives.
- Gray Areas and Edge Cases: Accessibility, internal compliance, and examples from Petra’s course work.
- Framing Work as Product or Project: Why even product teams need to think in project terms sometimes.
- Working Cross-Functionally: How to collaborate with HR, Finance, and other departments still in project mode.
- Dual Lenses, Not Rival Camps: Seeing your work through both frameworks, depending on context and constraints.
- Pattern Recognition Over Time: Learning when to switch models based on repeating challenges.
- Feedback Loops and “Done-ness”: How feedback loops reveal whether work is actually finished—or just paused.
Key Takeaways:
- Don’t get dogmatic: models are tools, not rules.
- Project models work well for one-time, compliance-driven work.
- Product models shine with evergreen challenges and durable teams.
- You can—and often should—use both lenses.
- Feedback loops help determine whether something is truly done.
Resources & Links:
- Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org
- Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com
Mentioned in the episode:
