Food For Thought #98: Understanding Complexity, Stakeholder Resistance, PM vs. PO

Food for Thought’s issue #98—shared with 9,655 peers—deals with understanding complexity and agile transition challenges. Finally, there is an introduction to Cynefin that’s readable. We also learn that abandoning ‘project thinking’ and embracing ‘product thinking’ is at the heart of transforming an organization.

We then turn to Cost of Delay and its tricky quantification problems. And Ron Jeffries muses about a new software development framework.

On the product side, we cherish an epic curriculum of 75-plus product management related articles, and we get to know the difference between the product manager and the product owner role.

Finally, we gain insight into prototype planning by user story mapping, and we address how to overcome passive resistance from stakeholders.

Have a great week!

Age of Product’s Food Thought 98: Understanding Complexity [bctt tweet=” #FoodForThought #98: Understand Complexity, Stakeholder Resistance, PM vs. PO, PM Curriculum”]

🏆 Tip of the Week

Scrum.org: Erwin van der Koogh provides an approachable explanation of Cynefin—by using games: “Cynefin: Understanding Complexity

Agile, Scrum & Understanding Complexity

John Yorke (via InfoQ): Transforming From Projects to Products

John Yorke stresses that an ‘agile transition’ always implies to transform our thinking from ‘projects’ to ‘products.’

(via Zalando Technology): Autonomous Motivation in Technology Organizations

David O'Donoghue, Zalando’s Head of Engineering, had a talk at this year’s Microservices Day on autonomous teams.

(via Leading Agile): Cost of Delay. Can It Be Quantified?

Marty Bradley on assessing the value of features that don’t have an exact dollar amount tied to them.

Ron Jeffries: A New Software Development Framework: Whole Team

Ron Jeffries descirbes what he would do if he were to create a new software development framework.

Product & Lean

Melissa Perri: Product Manager vs. Product Owner

Melissa Perri’s take on the question what the difference between a product owner and a product manager is.

Sachin Rekhi: Top 75+ Resources for Product Managers

Sachin Rekhi curated an outstanding list of product management related articles. An excellent curriculum to learn from.

(via The Clever PM): Stakeholders: Overcoming Passive Resistance

The Clever PM dissects the recurring challenge of coping with stakeholders who attempt to block your efforts.

Gibson Biddle (via Medium): How to Run a Quarterly Product Strategy Meeting: A Board Meeting for Product

Gibson Biddle, the former VP of Product at Netflix, on how he runs quarterly product strategy meetings.

Lewis Nyman (via Mind The Product): Planning Your Prototype With a Customer Journey Map

Lewis Nyman walks you through the process of building a prototype applying techniques like job-to-be-done and user story mapping.

The Essential Read

Steve Chapman: Certainty sells, but what's the exchange rate?

Does certainty equal security? Steve Chapman on volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

Find this content useful? Share it with your friends!