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Product management: ideas and frameworks explained

A collection of ideas, frameworks and techniques related to Product management, explained clearly so they are easy to understand and share.

Explanation of SMART goals meaning, showing that SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound, and how setting SMART goals leads to clearer progressSMART GoalsTo scale, you first have to do things that don't scale, advice from Paul Graham and Brian Chesky of AirBnB for scaling companies shown with a founder packing boxes themselves like Jeff Bezos of AmazonTo Scale, First Do Things That Don't ScaleRose Thorn Bud reflection technique summary showing a rose with thorn and bud highlighting successes, challenges and potentialRose, Thorn, BudChickens and pigs illustration: also known as the bacon and eggs principle, shows a bacon and fried egg breakfast with an egg for the chicken's involvement and a cleaver for the pig'sChickens and pigsThe XY Problem (or X-Y Problem): a child tries to reach a balloon by precariously stacking chairsand asks how they can stick them together to someone outside of the room who, eventually, wonders what for?The XY ProblemVUCA illustration: Examples of Volatility (a stock-like chart), Complexity (a circuit-like confusion), Uncertainty (a direction splitting into 3) and a person sweating over Ambiguity (a Necker cube).VUCAThree types of "no" illustrated animation with parenting examples. The Yes No (no to ice cream, yes to eating). The Material No (Yes I'd get it down if I had a ladder). The Priority No (Yes we can take the bear but we'll leave to have one of the others)Three Types of "No"Cake wreck: a cake where instructions for the cake—"Happy birthday in purple, no nuts"—have been smartly written across the front. Intended as a metaphor for literal misinterpretation.Cake wreckThe frog boil metaphor illustration: showing a frog put into cool water that is slowly raised not complaining until it's too late. Poor frog. Don't try this.The frog boil metaphorThe bus factor summary - A poor soul squashed by a bus lamented because they were the only one who knew the passwordBus factorWhat is Groupthink: People acquiescing to the manager's and what they see as others' views during a meetingGroupthinkThe cost of fixing bugs: Chart showing how the cost to fix bugs rises the longer you leave before fixing themThe cost of fixing bugsSneaky averages: A statistician sinking in the deep part of a pond by a sign saying the average depth is 3ftSneaky averagesLeading metrics and lagging metrics: illustrated by diet and exercise as a leading metric with weight loss as the lagging metricLeading and lagging metricsWhat is yak shaving and what does it mean example: someone looks on confused as another explains the convoluted story which led to them sitting there shaving a yak, just like solving problems in software developmentYak shavingBy Monkeys writing principle explained: on the left, representing passive communication, a group of monkeys climb all over a typical office work station causing havoc; seemingly without much productivity. On the right, representing active communication, a diligent worker sets to fixing a software bug. There's no sign of those pesky monkeys. By monkeysUmbrella and Funnel management style example explained: Todd Jackson's shit umbrella or shit funnel metaphor shown with on the left, the effective manager uses an umbrella to shield their team from a downpour of tasks and requests coming from all directions. This sheltered team are focussed and productive and celebrate their achievements. On the right, in place of the umbrella, the less effective manager uses a funnel as a catch-all, showering their team with actions, sending the team members running scared. Umbrellas and funnelsLooking under the lamppost, the streetlight effect, or the drunkard's search: a person asks someone scrabbling on the floor under a lamppost at night if they've lost their keys. The person replies they lost them elsewhere, but the light's much better here.Looking under the lamppost: the Streetlight Effect or the Drunkard's SearchWhat is the accountability ladder example explained: A child explains to a parent why homework wasn't done, illustrating each rung of increasing accountability on the accountability ladder from a victim mindset to a powerful accountable oneThe accountability ladderWhat is the Business Flywheel example explained: the model of The Business Funnel, where prospects are filtered to yield end customers is compared with The Business Flywheel, where customers are at the centre, acting as the driving force behind your business momentum. The business flywheelWhat is Rubberducking? Example explanation: a developer talks through their problem with the “therapist” rubber duck on their desk, only to discover the insight they need. Often useful for debugging.What is Rubberducking? An Explanation of the Rubber Duck Debugging TechniqueBugs and releases illustration: an upward curve line graph shows the increase in risk for bugs or problems with software as the size of release increases. Instead of one large release, a series of smaller software updates each with smaller, more manageable risk is suggested. Bugs and releasesHenrik Kniberg's release strategy for happier customers, sooner showing a car built piece-by-piece and a car built skateboard, to scooter, to bike, motorcycle then car.A release strategy for happier customers, soonerWhat is an information radiator in agile and software development sharing information passively in an officeInformation radiatorWatch out for barnacles illustration: One barnacle on the left seems like nothing, but if you have enough of them coating the back of a ship and its propeller then the cost of prevention, drag and removal will cost youWatch out for barnaclesYesterday’s weatherWhat is Hofstadter's Law quote explanation: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you account for Hofstadter’s Law.”Hofstadter’s LawLearn the Kano model

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