The Agile Daily Standup - AgileDad

Why are product managers still using agile?

Dec 9, 2024

Agile continues to dominate discussions in product management, but its application isn't without challenges. The podcast dives into why Agile feels like a square peg in a round hole, especially in the discovery phase of product development. It highlights the necessity of blending delivery-focused methods with outcome-based strategies. Listeners will find valuable insights on optimizing Agile practices to support research-driven workstreams and the importance of addressing misconceptions surrounding Agile's effectiveness.

07:49

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Quick takeaways

Agile methodologies often struggle to effectively support the discovery phase of product management, highlighting a disconnect between delivery and strategic outcomes.

Integrating change management with agile practices helps product managers align development efforts with broader strategic goals, fostering innovation and responsiveness.

Deep dives

The Distinction Between Agile and Agility

Agile methods emphasize small, incremental deliveries and the importance of gathering feedback throughout the product development process. This approach allows teams to release work in manageable chunks, facilitating faster adjustments based on user responses and changing market conditions. However, agility itself refers to the overall speed and responsiveness of a project to adapt to various influences, not just the output of completed tasks. Understanding this distinction is crucial for product managers who must align the methodologies with broader strategic goals rather than merely focusing on iterative delivery.

The Intersection of Agile and Product Management: Bridging Delivery and Discovery

8min

Why are product managers still using agile?

Ah, Agile — the buzzword that just won’t quit. It’s been the darling of software development for years, promising flexibility, speed, and a better way to build products. But here’s a cheeky thought…why are product managers still using Agile?

Don’t get me wrong, agility is essential. But sometimes, it feels like we’re trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, especially when it comes to product management. We continue to attempt to fit a delivery focused methodology into outcome-based work… and we seem to never learn our lesson.

The limitations for Agile are prevalent for discovery, an overlooked part of product management for many years. How does agile help to support a workstream that is primarily focused on research? Can it?

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