Power Track Blog

The weakest link in Agile Transformation

Every agile transformation begins with promise of removing the roadblocks to seamless delivery. However time and again one particular area demonstrates to be slow in adapting agile. And which area might that be? Yes, the bastion of Product Management.

Thankfully the era has ended wherein one line requirements were thrown over the wall to developers, who were left to their own devices to figure out the requirements specifications and to behold even the Acceptance Criteria.

It takes vision and resilience to transition from an era of “Product Management Isolation” to the bold new era wherein the Product Management is responsible for prioritizing, detailing the requirement specifications and user story statements.

So, how is the Product management faring in the new world? Progress is good but there is a long road ahead to unlearn old behavior patterns. It needs the ripe “agile mindset” for behavior changes, unlike most agile practices which can be brought in quickly, behavior changes take time and practice. And in this context regular team collaboration and conversations become crucial.

Teams are highly energized and motivated by the regular in   depth discussions and conversations with Product Management. People want to contribute and want to build great products, but they can do so only if they know what the customer wants.

Product Management is the crucial link between business side and the technical side of a product. Its absence makes the team rudderless and its presence provides the team direction and focus.