Learn about the importance of becoming agile in product management. The podcast explores the difference between waterfall and Agile methodologies, the Agile Manifesto and its significance, embracing negative feedback and adopting an agile mindset, leadership in Agile philosophy, the cost of delay, and the importance of the refinement phase in Agile development.
Agile methodologies promote adaptability, collaboration, and customer-centricity in product management.
Adopting Agile requires a mindset shift and a focus on people and interactions over processes and tools.
Leadership plays a crucial role in driving an organization's Agile transformation and should actively support and lead the adoption of Agile practices.
Deep dives
The importance of inclusive product management programs
In this podcast episode, the speaker highlights the significance of inclusive product management programs, acknowledging the companies that have invested in creating opportunities for professionals from historically marginalized communities to enter the field.
Understanding the philosophy behind Agile
The podcast explores the essence of Agile, emphasizing the need for a mindset shift and perceiving the world differently in order to truly embrace Agile principles. The speaker discusses the Agile Manifesto and the value of focusing on people and interactions over processes and tools.
Challenges in adopting Agile
The episode delves into the common misconceptions and challenges in adopting Agile practices. It explores the misconception that Agile is simply a set of methodologies to be followed, rather than a philosophy and mindset. The speaker also discusses the issue of certification and how it can sometimes incentivize the wrong behaviors.
The role of leadership in driving Agile transformation
The podcast emphasizes the importance of leadership in driving an organization's Agile transformation. The speaker suggests that leadership should proactively support and lead the adoption of Agile practices, recognizing that Agility can be a competitive advantage.
Sequencing work for value delivery
The episode highlights the significance of sequencing work based on value delivery rather than focusing on priorities. The speaker encourages product owners to understand the value of each backlog item and the effort required to deliver that value. The goal is to deliver the most value in the shortest time, emphasizing the importance of measuring value delivered and adjusting the backlog sequence as needed.
In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board members Red Russak welcome Larry Apke (T-Mobile) as they discuss how to become agile. It's important for PMs to become agile because Agile methodologies promote adaptability, collaboration, and customer-centricity. In today's fast-paced business environment, products and market conditions can change rapidly. Agile practices, such as Scrum or Kanban, enable PMs to iterate quickly, gather frequent feedback, and adjust their product strategies accordingly. This approach helps teams deliver value more efficiently, respond to customer needs effectively, and stay ahead in competitive markets.
Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.
What to Listen For:
00:00 Intro
06:29 Waterfall vs. Agile
07:54 The Agile Manifesto
09:32 Waterfall tendencies
11:04 Who is responsible to drive agile?
12:11 Common misperceptions about what it means to be agile
13:57 Discrepancy between philosophy and frameworks
16:09 Safe certifications
18:15 Understanding the why
21:51 Embracing negative feedback
25:18 Implementing agile
29:53 Proper sequencing of the backlog
31:55 Having leadership understand the cost of delay
36:06 Investing time in the discovery phase
39:04 How to get leadership out of the priority mindset?
44:39 Avoiding horizontal slicing
50:13 Golden Rule of Agile
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