DiscoverThe Humanizing Work Show#206 Feature Mining: Find the Smart First Slice of a Big Complex Idea
#206 Feature Mining: Find the Smart First Slice of a Big Complex Idea

#206 Feature Mining: Find the Smart First Slice of a Big Complex Idea

Update: 2025-11-19
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Most teams start big initiatives with a slice that’s too big, too obvious, or too fuzzy to deliver anything useful. Feature Mining gives you a simple, reliable way to find the smart first slice of a big complex idea. It helps you uncover the real sources of complexity, align stakeholders early, and design first steps that create value, reduce risk, and generate real learning.


In this episode, Peter Green and Richard Lawrence explain how Feature Mining works, where it came from, and why it’s so effective in complex environments. You’ll hear a real retail example, the step-by-step process, and the core benefits teams see when they use this approach well.


You can learn Feature Mining in depth as part of our 80/20 Product Backlog Refinement online course, or join us live in our CSPO, A-CSPO, or CAPED workshops, where Feature Mining is a core practice for shaping big initiatives.


Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/feature-mining-overview-finding-the-first-slice-in-complexity
Share a challenge or episode idea: mailbag@humanizingwork.com
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanizingwork

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#206 Feature Mining: Find the Smart First Slice of a Big Complex Idea

#206 Feature Mining: Find the Smart First Slice of a Big Complex Idea

Humanizing Work