Are fractional executives the future of leadership in tech startups? In this episode of Arguing Agile, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel unpack the growing trend of fractional CXOs. We explore the benefits and trade-offs of hiring part-time executives, including:Access to high-level expertise and cross-industry experienceConsiderations for small and medium-sized businessesChallenges in building trust and managing multiple teamsRed flags to watch...
As a Product Manager, are you constantly asked "When will it be done?" before even knowing what "it" is?Learn why this simple question is so problematic and how to handle it effectively. Learn strategies for educating stakeholders, collaborating on roadmaps, and focusing on delivering real value instead of arbitrary deadlines.Don't let deadline pressure derail your product strategy. Listen now for practical tips on having better conversations about timelines and priorities.#ProductManagement ...
In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, we dive deep into the corrosive nature of excessive planning in software development organizations. Discover how the tyranny of plans can stifle innovation, hinder adaptability, and lead to project failures. We explore the cognitive dissonance that often plagues leadership when plans inevitably clash with market realities.Join us as we discuss strategies for dealing with uncertainty, the pitfalls of Taylorism in modern work culture, and the import...
What Does an Enterprise Business Agility Coach ACTUALLY Do?Discover the crucial role of Enterprise Business Agility Coaches in transforming organizations! In this episode, we dive deep into:How an Enterprise Coach differs from other CoachesWorking with C-suite executives to drive organizational changeMeasuring culture and transformation successNavigating resistance from middle managementImproving time-to-market and financial outcomes💡 Perfect for: Product leaders, transformation coaches,...
Discover the four critical phases of product lifecycle management and learn how to navigate each stage successfully. In this comprehensive guide, we break down:MVP: Building your initial product and finding market fitGrowth: Scaling teams and features effectivelyMaturity: Optimizing operations and maintaining market positionSunset: Managing decline and transitioning strategiesFor each category, we explore:Team composition and changesEvolution of Product strategiesWhat gets handled (and w...
All Aboard the AI Hype Train!!!Product management is DEAD! It died facing a high-noon showdown with AI, and the rumors of it's demise are spreading faster than a locomotive through the boom-town of Silicon Valley.In this episode of Arguing Agile, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel try a daring uncoupling of the the AI hype train as they examine Claire Vo's take on whether product management is about to derail.Listen as we navigate treacherous mountain...
Success as a platform PM requires both technical depth and exceptional emotional intelligence to navigate complex organizational dynamics...That goes double if you work in banking or finance!In this episode of Arguing Agile, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando read and respond to a question from a listener who is a platform product managers at a Bank.Getting into the nitty-gritty of platform how-to's, this episode is perfect for product managers, agile...
Have you been in a situation where engineering leadership and product management do not see eye-to-eye?In this episode, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel interviews and coaches Product Manager Brian Orlando on challenges product managers face when working with engineering teams, leads, and managers. Listen/watch to learn tactics for diffusing a potentially difficult situation, including:Strategies for effective spike work and time-boxingThe importance of frequent check-ins and d...
As a product manager, have you ever inherited a messy backlog? In this episode, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel break down 6 useful tactics you can use to tackle this common challenge. Listen as we discuss the challenges of inheriting a product backlog and learn practical strategies for:Aligning with company objectivesEffective stakeholder communicationPrioritization techniquesLeveraging data for decision-makingStreamlining processes and ...
As product managers and agile practitioners, we often struggle to communicate our value to management in terms they understand.In this episode, you'll learn how to better translate business value to management, make a case for additional resources, and overcome resistance to change in your organization.Join Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel as we discuss:Translating agile metrics into business valueMaking a case for additional resources in SMBsOverco...
We don't always do reaction videos, but when we do, we do them right!On this episode, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel react to a candid interview with the former Google CEO as he shares provocative insights on the future of AI, Silicon Valley's approach to innovation, and potential disruption to big tech companies. Join us as we analyze his (somewhat) controversial statements on remote work, startup strategies, and the geopolitics of AI development...
As a product leader or agile practitioner, do you struggle to communicate value to your finance team?In this episode of the Arguing Agile Podcast, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel muse on 13 common misconceptions CFOs face and how they impact product and organizational success. Listen as we discuss:Demonstrating the ROI of business agilityBalancing short-term gains with long-term strategyImproving cross-departmental communicationShowcasing the ...
Are you struggling with strategic planning in your organization?In this episode, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando walk through the common mistakes companies make developing and executing strategies.Listen as we discuss:The goal mirage of confusing aspirations for actionOveremphasis on planning and forecastingThe pitfalls of being a "feature factory"Neglecting the external business environmentMistaking operational efficiency for strategyLearn how to ...
Are outdated management practices and hierarchical structures holding your organization back?In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando take the untraveled path of analyzing why the need for control is so pervasive in corporate environments. Listen to learn:How the illusion of control manifestsHow risk aversion stifles creativity and growthBetter organizational structures than the autocratic heirarchyHow the ...
In this episode, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel put the controversial topic of centralized corporate structures (aka. the Ivory Tower) on trial.Listen or watch as the hosts explore the pros and cons, including:The pitfalls of consolidating specialized roles into "ivory towers"How centralization affects team autonomy and decision-makingHow to measure effectiveness of centralizationThe importance of aligning with business goals and maintaining accou...
In this episode of the Arguing Agile Podcast, school is in session as Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel helps Product Manager Brian Orlando understand the ways of successfully transitioning a team from Scrum (or whatever) to Kanban! We cover key Kanban concepts, like: Adapting and Reducing events and meetingsUnderstanding flow and pull systemsSetting effective WIP limitsCreating common-sense policiesManaging backlogs and estimationsMeasuring success with Kanban metricsWheth...
In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando open a door into the world of W. Edwards Deming by exploring his 14 principles for management from his seminal book "Out of the Crisis". Whether you're in software development or manufacturing; whether you're a leader looking to transform your organization, a QA professional seeking to improve quality, or a product manager looking to delight customers - this episode ...
Do You Really Need a UX Researcher on Your Product Team? There are no easy answers on this podcast as we react to a provocative LinkedIn post. On this episode, Product Manager Brian and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om debate the merits and challenges of having dedicated UX researchers on product teams. Listen as we explore:Are UX researchers a must-have or a luxury? Can product managers develop research skills?Does short-term thinking undervalue the impact of UX resea...
In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Product Manager Nisha Patel joins hosts Om Patel and Brian Orlando to discuss how to develop effective product strategies. They break down real-world examples from companies like Dropbox, Airbnb, Stripe, and more to illustrate the key components of a strong strategy. Learn practical tips for defining the right problem to solve, creating a guiding policy, and identifying measurable actions to test your strategy. Whether you're a product manager, ag...
In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Enterprise Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando are joined by Alex Polyakov, CEO of Project Simple (https://projectsimple.ai) for an immersive discussion of the complex topic of technical debt. They discuss what technical debt really means, when it can be beneficial vs harmful, and strategies for prioritizing and paying down tech debt while still delivering value to users. Learn how to have productive conversations about t...