(This article is cross-posted at onproductmanagement.net)
In several online forums/blogs recently, there has been a lot of talk and discussion about “how often do I update this?” “Change that?” “Do this?” There was a specific thread that was related to a question about a product roadmap, but I’ve also seen the same question about web content, marketing communication pieces, customer visits and other outward facing activities. Our product professional peers are looking for some schedule so they can plug the activity into their calendar and update x, y or z regularly.
But, a calendar appointment is not what is needed to address the challenge.
(This article is cross-posted at onproductmanagement.net)
I don’t know when it happened but it officially became fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Typically I would moan at this thought, which makes me think about how many bags of leaves I need to rake this season (typically 100 around my house,) or worse yet, that winter and the freezing temperatures are approaching. But this year I’m hoping the new season brings a breath of fresh air. This summer, I realized my parents are getting old. Three out of the four had a significant health problem. And while, thankfully, all are doing better now, it made me face the reality that needs, plans and provisions need to change.
It happens to our products too.
(This article is cross-posted at onproductmanagement.net)
The couple is planning their vacation, and decided to take a car on this trip. They were looking forward to the adventures they could encounter along the way and the side diversions that would present as opportunities for exploration. Then it happened. They got lost. She was looking at the GPS but it offered no help for getting them back on track, there were missing roads and turns that they were passing were not present on the screen. Soon enough they saw a sign for the gas station up ahead. And, as you would expect, he didn’t want to stop. “Real men don’t ask for directions,” was his reply.
(This article is cross-posted as a guest post at onproductmanagement.net)
In baseball, everything you’re first taught about pitching has to do with speed and location… you want to throw the ball past the batter, and put it in the corners of the strike zone. Go for the heat!
When ever a new product is launched, great pains are taken to measure success of the new product (you are measuring, right?). Do you know what are you measuring against? If you created a business case prior to developing the product, you should already have a first year sales forecast ready, available and communicated to all involved. (more…)
