I know, we’ve all been in a “brainstorming” session which devolves into either a pointless series of discussions that never goes anywhere, or which are code for “let the executives speak, and follow their lead.” The simple fact is that most people aren’t trained to work in a true brainstorming fashion, and that most businesses […]
The Myth of the “Faster Horse”
I’m sure you’ve heard of the allegorical story that, when asked why he built his cars the way he did, Henry Ford is alleged to say, “If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that supports the claim that he is to have said […]
You’re not Agile Unless You’re “agile”…
Probably the single most common question that I run into nowadays is which process is the “best” one to be Agile, with a capital “A”. And people are often surprised when I tell them there’s no right or wrong answer here, but that they’re focusing on the wrong thing if they’re trying to be Agile […]
Who Watches the Watchmen — Where Should Product Managers Report?
A common question in the world of Product Management is where exactly the role should sit in a company’s organization chart. Some people claim that the role “needs” to be part of Marketing. Some people claim the role “needs” to be a part of Development. Everyone seems to have some opinion on the matter, and […]
Accept Ambiguity — Then Drive it Out
I’ve worked in a lot of companies where the direction or vision that we were shooting for was in question or even in transition. And, when that happens, the natural result is a lot of chaos and uncertainty. I recall in one very contentious meeting regarding a new direction one company was taking, a very […]