237 Distributed Decision Making is Product Management
Mar 9, 2020
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Paige Costello, a Product Manager at Asana, discusses enhancing team productivity and innovation. She introduces the 'Pyramid of Clarity' to align individual tasks with broader goals. Sharing her unique journey from literature to tech, she highlights the importance of values in collaboration. Paige emphasizes informed decision-making and the power of project management tools to solve problems as a team. She also champions a mindful approach, fostering a culture of curiosity and trust to drive innovation at Asana.
The 'pyramid of clarity' enhances team productivity by connecting individual tasks to larger organizational goals, fostering transparency and alignment.
Asana's distributed decision-making model empowers team members by clarifying roles and accelerating decision-making, thereby promoting collaboration and accountability.
Deep dives
Optimizing Team Productivity and Clarity
Product teams can enhance productivity by adopting the concept of the 'pyramid of clarity,' which emphasizes the relationship between individual tasks and larger company goals. This approach involves establishing clarity around purpose, planning, progress, and responsibility, allowing team members to understand what they need to achieve and why. By fostering this environment of transparency, teams can operate more effectively, knowing their roles and responsibilities in relation to overarching organizational objectives. Asana exemplifies this process within its Clarity Pillar, which aims to promote alignment and clarity throughout the organization.
Mindful Decision-Making and Curiosity
Asana encourages a culture of mindful decision-making by emphasizing the importance of identifying and solving problems rather than simply pushing features. The company fosters a continuous learning mindset through practices like the 'above or below the line' concept, which helps team members assess their openness to new ideas and collaboration. This commitment to curiosity drives better understanding of customer needs and leads to more effective solutions. By prioritizing problem-solving and promoting transparency in discussions, Asana enhances its product development processes.
Distributed Decision-Making for Organizational Efficiency
Asana employs a distributed decision-making model that clarifies roles and responsibilities, allowing decisions to be made by individuals closest to the relevant work. This structure, defined by Areas of Responsibility (AORs), reduces bottlenecks and accelerates decision-making within growing organizations. By ensuring that each team member is aware of their specific responsibilities and has the authority to make informed decisions, Asana cultivates a high-trust environment that empowers teams. This method not only streamlines workflows but also enhances collaboration as team members become more accountable for their respective roles.
Paige Costello, product manager at Asana, shares how product teams can optimize their processes to achieve team productivity and innovate at scale. Get the latest updates from the show at www.thisisproductmanagement.com.
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