Comments for The Unbreakable Product Owner

Comment on Super Power #4 – Scope Negotiation by Who is Joke Vandemaele? | Yves Hanoulle

Who is Joke Vandemaele? | Yves Hanoulle — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:32:30 +0000

[...] Is release date without having sent any answers to me. That says as much about my trust for her as her negotiation [...]

Comment on Real story mapping! by Bob MacNeal

Bob MacNeal — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 02:27:04 +0000

Nice picture of your story mapping board. I like the idea of having pre-written cards for backbone categories. Also, your reminder to review project goals is a good one. I recently sat through a story mapping session (in my role as developer) led by someone who was new to the story-mapping concept and ill-prepared. It didn’t go well. Obviously you were well-prepared. It’s great to get off to a good start with your users. Well-run story mapping gives users/stakeholders a degree of confidence that the team is focused on understanding what needs to be built (…and built in an order that considers both a “systems” view and goals/priorities).

Comment on Real story mapping! by Tweets that mention Real story mapping! | The Unbreakable Product Owner -- Topsy.com

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:19:32 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Samantha Laing, Unbreakable. Unbreakable said: Real story mapping!: http://wp.me/pWmWm-7V [...]

Comment on Super Power #7 – Taking Blind Leaps by Super Power #8 – Quick Draw | The Unbreakable Product Owner

Super Power #8 – Quick Draw | The Unbreakable Product Owner — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:35:31 +0000

[...] I wrote about in Taking Blind Leaps, one of our development teams was working on a graphical tool that could do basic scenario [...]

Comment on Super Power #6 – Shrinking by Super Power #8 – Quick Draw | The Unbreakable Product Owner

Super Power #8 – Quick Draw | The Unbreakable Product Owner — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:35:28 +0000

[...] be effective and popular and those that will not work well. That is precisely why I wrote about shrinking your app to better focus on the best features. That’s reactive though, surely we have to be able to do [...]

Comment on Super Power #7 – Taking Blind Leaps by TheAgilePO

TheAgilePO — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:36:24 +0000

I think it’s a very powerful tactic to use. There’s certainly risk involved in taking blind leaps but fortunately the risk is minimal if you’re working with short sprints. With short sprints you’ll get feedback (and it will be better feedback) from your users quickly and can adjust if you got it wrong.

The Agile PO (@TheAgilePO on Twitter)

Comment on Super Power #2 – Selling by Super Power #5 – Flying | The Unbreakable Product Owner

Super Power #5 – Flying | The Unbreakable Product Owner — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:46:30 +0000

[...] for that 30,000 foot altitude I mentioned above, see my post on selling your ideas to high level [...]

Comment on Super Power #3 – Energy by Todd

Todd — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 20:52:32 +0000

In regard to the Dan Pink piece, I don’t look at it as requiring all-or-nothing acceptance. I think it contains some interesting ideas and a different way of looking at individual and group dynamics in the workplace. I disagree with a good number of the conclusions drawn, but there’s value in understanding the source of those disagreements, and value in trying some of the ideas in siutations where other approaches have not been met with much success.

It may be that “cheerleader” isn’t the best term, but the leader absolutely needs to be an effective point person. Under ideal circumstances, this tends to be positive as the team is working on projects that provide clear business value. Under less-ideal scenarios, it may be laying out the understanding for why the business is doing something ill-considered and the tactical decisions made to accommodate that. In any case, having perspective, a good understanding of the key considerations at play, an ability to provide rational, supportable explanations for decisions made, and taking personal responsibility for those decisions are all things I’d look for in a leader, whatever we call them.

Comment on Super Power #3 – Energy by unbreakablepo

unbreakablepo — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:23:44 +0000

Thanks Taylor -- I think you're right that the video is getting a ton of air time right now, must really hit a chord. Appreciate your perspective as well. If you energy is without substance, everybody just rolls their eyes when you walk in the door. Of course those things you list are hugely important. I'm not advocating being Chris Farley in a van down by the river, but too few of the organizational leaders out there cannot clearly articulate themselves or bore you to death doing it. So I just want leaders to be...leaders. Passion is part of it (as you mentioned).

Comment on Super Power #3 – Energy by Taylor Tyng

Taylor Tyng — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:48:06 +0000

While I appreciate and share many of the same opinions here, I wish people would stop using the Dan Pink RSA piece. As good as it is, and it is no doubt insightful it you haven’t seen it, it in part also misrepresents the actual was study that was done. Don’t get me wrong here, it is worth watching, but I think that people are taking the “be positive” stance to a point which I also think is becoming counter-productive. Those who like the Dan Pink movie should also watch Barbara Ehrenreich’s talk “Smile of Die” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5um8QWWRvo), also done by RSA Animate. As a leader you want passion and intensity, but being a cheerleader is not part of your job. Bringing perspective and understanding to show value is decision-making is your job. Being a mentor is your job. Being consistent is your job. Being approachable and accessible is your job. Leaders need not lead loudly to lead successfully. I think that that is getting confused a lot right now.