If you work in tech, you probably have a love/hate relationship with project planning. We dislike it because to get it right, we need to accurately predict the future, a largely impossible task. On the other hand, we like it because it gives business leaders the "predictability" they long for in order to make sound decisions that drive business growth.
Some in the agile community have resisted the need for planning, while others have simply encouraged planning in shorter cycles. As the shift from project thinking to product thinking becomes mainstream, we need to reconsider the impact on planning.
Take a deep dive into planning and discusses how this changes for the better as we shift from project to product. We explore:
- The difference between project plans and product horizons
- Turning the Iron Triangle over: Time, Budget, Scope is still a "pick two"
- How to estimate in ranges
- Ways to create roadmaps and product horizons at the portfolio, product family, and product levels
- The reasons to steer the conversation from "When will you be done?" to "What are we investing in next?"
3. 3
HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS
Audio is streamed through
your computer speakers, so
make sure your audio is on
and turned up.
The recording and slides will
be sent to everyone via email
within 24-48 hours after the
webinar concludes.
Submit questions any time
during this presentation via
the Q&A box on the bottom
panel of your screen.
4. 4
ANNE STEINER, VP, Product & Technology, Cprime
• 10 years as an FE Developer
• 7 years as a Product Manager
• 5+ years as a Leader, Coach, and Executive
• Head of Product & Technology at Cprime
ABOUT THIS TALK
• Third in a series on moving from project to product
• Discuss one of the largest inhibitors to market/customer success
• Which is how we work together as business, PMO, and delivery teams
OUR SPEAKER
5. 5
AGENDA
01 FROM PROJECT TO PRODUCT
02 PRODUCT HORIZONS
03 PRODUCT ROADMAPS AND OUTCOMES
04 PLANNING IN A PRODUCT WORLD
05 TAKE AWAY’S AND Q&A
6. FROM PROJECT TO PRODUCT
Product Over Project
05/12/2021 | Anne Steiner, VP of Product & Technology
7. 7
A project is a temporary
endeavor undertaken to
create a unique
product or service.
A product is the thing
that you build
(or the service you provide)
that impacts people.
8. 8
PLANNING & BUDGETING
Plan
Driven
Value & Quality
Driven
Cost Schedule
Scope (Rqt’s) Cost Schedule
Scope (Outcomes)
Fix cost and schedule;
float the scope
Fix the scope; float
the cost and schedule
PROJECT
The plan drives cost &
schedule estimates.
PRODUCT
The vision drives outcome-
based roadmaps.
TIME, BUDGET, SCOPE – PICK 2; AGILE LETS US PICK DATE
9. 9
WHAT’S HOLDING US BACK?
FUNDING
SEPARATION OF
BUSINESS & IT
ROLE OF PMO
AND PLANNING
PRODUCT
MANAGEMENT
DEDICATED TEAMS PLANNING
15. 15
TO OUTCOME-DRIVEN ROADMAPS
Q1
Outcome:
● Enhance resiliency of
the purchasing app
Key Results:
● Increase
automated test
coverage
to 40-50%
● Introduce 4-5
“chaos” tests
● Automate PR process
within CI/CD pipeline
Q2
Outcome:
● Increase new
user registrations
by 20%
Key Results:
● Reduce fall
off during
registration process
by 25%
● Allow standard
registration in less
than 7 clicks
● Automate 2 of the
steps that today
require manual input
● Remove rqmt to
supply credit card
at registration
Q3
Outcome:
● Convert 30% of
new registrants
to purchasers
Key Results:
● Reduce time on task
for purchase flow to
<30 seconds
● Offer discount for
first-time purchasers
● Reduce errors in
credit card
processing to less
than 1% of tries
Q4
Outcome:
● Increase average
purchase amount by
20%
Key Results:
● Propose purchase
ideas based on
similar user behavior
● Propose
complimentary
product based on
purchase selection
and similar user
behavior
● Add item to cart
in one-click
AFTER Q4
● Outcome
● Outcome
● Outcome
● Outcome
Outcomes
19. 19
PLANNING
Plan
Driven
Value & Quality
Driven
Cost Schedule
Scope (Rqt’s) Cost Schedule
Scope (Outcomes)
Fix cost and schedule;
float the scope
Fix the scope; float the
cost and schedule
PROJECT
The plan drives cost &
schedule estimates.
PRODUCT
The vision drives outcome-
based roadmaps.
TIME, BUDGET, SCOPE – PICK 2; AGILE LETS US PICK DATE
20. 20
SCOPE IS ORDERED AND ESTIMATED IN RANGES
Roadmap / Epic-Level
Backlog
AS AN INITIATIVE PROGRESSES
1 S
2 M
3 L
4 M
5 L
6 S
7 L
8 M
9 M
10 S
11 L
…
?
?
?
?
Roadmap / Epic-Level
Backlog
?
?
1 S
2 M
3 L
4 M
5 L
6 S
7 L
8 M
9 M
10 S
11 L
…
AT THE BEGINNING OF AN INITIATIVE
22. 22
WE CAN PLAN THIS WAY AT ALL LEVELS
STRATEGY ROADMAP BACKLOG
WORK
ITEMS
23. 23
KEYS FOR SUCCESS
• Think in product all the way from strategy through delivery
• Plan outcomes not work
• Adjust until you get to the desired outcomes
• Transition the conversation from “When will it be done?” to “What outcome
should we drive next?”
• Always work on the most important thing first and strive to deliver “whole
value”
• Planning, like everything else in agile should be “just enough; just in time”
• Estimate in ranges and narrow those ranges as things become more certain
24. 24
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING…
• Connect:
• Anne Steiner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annesteiner/
• Check out Cprime upcoming webinars, read our blog, download
whitepapers/case studies & more:
• www.cprime.com/resources
• Share with us what topics you are interested in, ask us questions
or give us feedback!
• learn@cprime.com
25. 25
CPRIME RESOURCES
“Project to Product: Building the
Right Thing in the Right Way”
https://www.cprime.com/resour
ce/white-papers/project-to-
product-building-the-right-
thing-in-the-right-way/
“From Project to Product: Let’s
Talk Funding”
https://www.cprime.com/resour
ce/webinars/from-project-to-
product-lets-talk-funding/
26. 26
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Share in the conversation & keep updated on
thought leadership, events & more!
on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, & YouTube
27. 27
WWW.CPRIME.COM | 877.753.2760
LEARN@CPRIME.COM | (877) 753-2760 | WWW.CPRIME.COM
Coaching and Leading Product Agility
Anne Steiner
anne.steiner@cprime.com
linkedin.com/in/annesteiner @annesteiner7