Sprint 51 :: Product Decisions
My dear product fellas, let’s to straight to the point – we’ve got a heap of decisions to make every day, features to juggle and competitors breathing down our necks with their shiny new offerings, plans and features.
It’s a roller coaster, but fear not, because we’ve got strategies up our sleeves to handle these twists and turns!
Killing Features: When to Bid Farewell
Sometimes, as PMs, we birth features into the world with all the hopes and dreams, but then.. they don’t quite hit the mark. So, when should we pull the plug? Sustainable growth is the name of the game. If a feature’s not gaining traction or doesn’t show potential for scaling, it might be time to say goodbye. Remember, it’s okay to let go – it makes room for innovation.
Other times... we just have to make the feature an extra or disabled by default until someone asks for it. Throwing it away is not necessary.
Facing the Competition: Answering the Killer Moves
Competitors dropping bombs with killer features and freemium plans? It’s the tech world tango. But here’s the secret sauce – rather than panicking, let’s analyze. Dive deep into what makes their feature a hit. Understand the pain points it solves. Then, bring out the big guns: user feedback! Engage with your user base, understand what they love and what they're missing. Use this intel to pivot or enhance your own offering. Sometimes, being second means you get to learn from others' hits and misses.
Frameworks for Decisions: RAPID
Imagine you're launching a new feature in your product:
Responsible: The development team is responsible for coding and implementing the feature.
Accountable: The Product Manager oversees the decision-making process, ensuring it aligns with the product's vision.
Consulted: Customer Support, Marketing and UX/UI Design teams offer insights into potential user issues, marketing strategies, and design implications.
Informed: The CEO and other department heads are informed about the decision and its implications. Always keep your stakeholders informed!
Decider: The Product Manager, in collaboration with the development lead and considering insights from other consulted parties, makes the final decision on the feature's specifics and implementation.
Capturing the Essentials: Decoding Decisions
Making decisions isn’t just throwing stuff. We need a checklist. What are the goals? What’s the impact? Is there data to support this move? Have we considered user feedback and market trends? And most importantly, what’s the timeline and the resources needed? By capturing these essentials, decisions become less of a shot in the dark and more of a calculated step forward.
In this tech-driven battleground, we’re the captains steering the ship. So, let’s embrace the challenges, arm ourselves with the right tools, and keep innovating. Remember, it’s not just about surviving; it’s about thriving and reshaping the future.
Cheers to that, fellow PMs!
The Product Land ⛰️
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