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Problems in the Solution
Product Management / Product Ops / Product Strategy

Problems in the Solution

Posted on: March 2, 2025March 2, 2025

“I don’t get to set the direction. Leadership tells us the big projects they’ve decided to do, it’s up to us to elaborate and execute.” This is a common situation for a lot of product managers. They’ve been told that some big initiative is happening, and it’s up to them […]

Being Wrong vs. Being Late
Product Management / Product Ops

Being Wrong vs. Being Late

Posted on: July 21, 2024July 21, 2024

Which is the bigger risk for your product right now? Shipping with a feature your customers don’t value? Or delaying your release in order to ship with something they do value?

Feeding Your Business Case
Product Management / Product Ops

Feeding Your Business Case

Posted on: November 13, 2023November 13, 2023

Product strategy manifests as a collection of bets, investment decisions to do something or not, to do things now or later. A business case requires you to compare the predicted costs with the expected benefits. Your problem statement must articulate the expected benefit in economic terms to support your decision […]

Stunting Collaboration Before It Can Begin
Product Management / Product Ops

Stunting Collaboration Before It Can Begin

Posted on: November 7, 2023November 14, 2023

Your process can prevent collaboration. The language you use in your problem statements can stop collaboration too. When you use proxy variables instead of economic measures of outcome you prevent your teams from collaborating and you reduce the likelihood of achieving product success.

Uselessly Wide Estimation Ranges
Product Management / Product Ops / Product Strategy

Uselessly Wide Estimation Ranges

Posted on: October 23, 2023October 23, 2023

Estimating with ranges requires a level of transparency which may be uncomfortable because you are acknowledging what you don’t know. Doing this, however, cascades into multiple positive consequences. This is also a necessary component of outcome orientation.

Biasing with Problem Statements
Product Management / Product Ops

Biasing with Problem Statements

Posted on: October 3, 2023October 3, 2023

Good product management is understanding the problems your customers want to solve, how your customers get value from solving those problems, and figuring out how best to help them. We need a little help to actually understand those problems from the customer’s point of view. Even good product managers will […]

Problem Statements Solve for SomeWhen
Product Management / Product Ops

Problem Statements Solve for SomeWhen

Posted on: September 25, 2023September 25, 2023

There is more to identifying who’s problem you’re trying to solve – you need to also have a sense for the context in which they experience the problem. Problem statements solve for someone, and good problem statements also solve for somewhen.

Problem Statements Provide Purpose
Product Management / Product Ops

Problem Statements Provide Purpose

Posted on: August 10, 2023August 10, 2023

Every company competes in a dynamic market. Staying the course is drifting off course. When you don’t use problem statements to express your intent, there are no signals to help your organization stay on course. Your people lack clarity, and therefore make mistakes.

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These articles are written primarily for product managers. Everyone trying to create great products can find something of use here. Hopefully these articles help you with thinking, doing, and learning.

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Recent Posts

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  • Problems in the Solution
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