Building evidence-guided products - Itamar Gilad (Google, Microsoft, IBM)
Oct 11, 2023
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Product veteran Itamar Gilad joins the podcast to discuss implementing evidence-guided principles into product management. They explore challenges in writing the book 'Evidence Guided', transitioning to a new way of working, and building evidence-guided products. Topics include structured approaches, discovery-oriented teams, goal setting, prioritization, research, and strategy.
Transitioning to an evidence-guided approach in product management involves shifting from output-focused roadmaps to outcome-focused roadmaps, prioritizing goals and business metrics.
Implementing evidence-guided practices requires deliberate and strategic approaches, starting with focusing on specific pain points and having leaders championing the approach.
Deep dives
Transitioning to an Evidence-Guided Approach
Transitioning to an evidence-guided approach in product management can be challenging, but it is essential for success. One key aspect is shifting from output-focused roadmaps to outcome-focused roadmaps, where goals and business metrics take center stage. By aligning goals and working towards outcomes, teams can prioritize ideas more effectively and make data-driven decisions. This approach also involves using evidence, such as testing and validating ideas, to guide decision-making and ensure that the right products are being developed. While the transition may encounter resistance and lack of trust, building trust and open communication can help overcome these challenges.
Overcoming the Fear of Slowing Down
Many organizations worry that adopting an evidence-guided approach will slow down their product development process. However, this fear is misplaced. In fact, evidence-guided development can be faster and more efficient. By testing ideas and quickly discarding bad ones, teams have more room to explore and discover potentially impactful ideas. The initial investments in idea evaluation and validation are relatively low, allowing teams to iterate and pivot quickly. By focusing on achieving desired outcomes rather than adhering to strict timelines, organizations can maximize their speed and deliver results that truly move the needle.
Addressing Trust Issues
A lack of trust between product teams and stakeholders is a common challenge in many organizations. One way to address this is by transitioning from opinion-based to evidence-guided decision-making. Clearly defining business goals and using transparent criteria for evaluating and testing ideas can help build trust. When teams are able to show evidence and progress towards the desired outcomes, it fosters a more constructive and objective discussion. Creating a shared understanding of goals and consistently evaluating ideas based on evidence can bridge the trust gap and promote collaboration.
Implementing Evidence-Guided Practices
Implementing evidence-guided practices requires a deliberate and strategic approach. Organizations can start by focusing on specific areas such as goal-setting, prioritization, or development processes. By prioritizing and fixing a particular pain point, teams can gradually introduce evidence-guided practices and change the culture within the organization. It is crucial to have leaders who champion this approach and drive the necessary changes. Additionally, creating cross-functional task forces or groups can support teams in making the transition and ensure successful adoption of evidence-guided methodologies.
On this week's podcast episode, product veteran Itamar Gilad joins us on the podcast to provide insights on implementing evidence-guided principles into product management. He argues that as product managers, we must be driven by evidence to find product success.
Featured Links: Follow Itamar on LinkedIn | Buy Itamar's new book'Evidence-Guided: Creating High Impact Products in the Face of Uncertainty' | Free e-book downloads on Testing Product ideas, ICE Prioritisation, OKRs done right, and many other resources at Itamar's website | Sign-up for Itamar's 'High-Impact Product Management' newsletter | 'High-Integrity Commitments'feature at SVG | Itamar's previous episodes on The Product Experience podcast
Our Hosts Lily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She’s currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She’s worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath.
Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury’s. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group’s Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He’s the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager’s Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon’s music stores in the US & UK.
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