product innovation Archives - Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

Substack Week: Why Product Management is Broken and How to Fix It With Anton Zaides

In this SPECIAL Substack Week episode, we dive deep into the current state of product management with Anton Zaides, a seasoned software engineer and leader. Anton shares his perspectives on why product management is fundamentally broken and offers practical solutions for organizations looking to improve their product development processes.

The Journey to Engineering Leadership

“I started to search for content from other engineering managers and focused on practical insights.”

Anton’s journey spans 15 years in software engineering, from game development to DevOps and scaling startups. His transition to leadership revealed a gap in practical leadership content, which inspired him to start sharing his own experiences. Drawing from his four years as an engineering leader in a startup, Anton noticed patterns in product management that needed addressing, leading to his viral article on the topic.

The Broken State of Product Management

“My team was working on a feature, that got canceled the day after it was released.”

Continue reading Substack Week: Why Product Management is Broken and How to Fix It With Anton Zaides

Agile in Hardware: Agile for Physical Products, Insights from Dainese’s Helmet Project With Massimo Terzo

In this Agile in Hardware episode, Agile Coach and Consultant Massimo Terzo shares the story of his experience implementing Agile methodologies for physical product development, highlighting Dainese’s journey to develop an innovative motorcycle helmet. Massimo shares essential strategies and unique challenges in applying Agile to hardware, emphasizing continuous learning, collaboration, and a customer-focused mindset. Whether you’re in software or hardware, this conversation offers valuable insights for anyone navigating complex product development.

The Agile Journey Begins: Adapting for Dainese’s Helmet Project

“Dainese is a cutting-edge company, but they faced market pressures that required faster development – this helmet project was all about innovation, under intense time constraints.”

Massimo provides an overview of Dainese’s motorbike helmet project, an Agile transformation journey for a purely physical product – with no software involved. As Dainese faced heightened competition and urgent market deadlines, they knew they had to accelerate product development. Massimo describes how Agile’s typical techniques for software, like continuous delivery, had to be redefined for hardware. Instead of delivering functional increments, they focused on incremental learning to develop elements like airflow and ventilation. Prototyping became a central strategy, allowing the team to test quickly, gather feedback, and make informed design choices in a dynamic environment.

“In hardware, Agile isn’t about delivering functional slices but rather about acquiring critical knowledge incrementally to guide design.”

Introducing Agile to Hardware Teams: Building an Agile Mindset

Continue reading Agile in Hardware: Agile for Physical Products, Insights from Dainese’s Helmet Project With Massimo Terzo

Agile in Hardware: Agile Transformation in a Hardware Organization, Wärtsilä Case Study with Henna Torkkola and Maarit Laanti

In this Agile in Hardware episode, Henna Torkkola and Maarit Laanti share the pioneering journey of integrating Agile practices into Wärtsilä’s Marine R&D, particularly within the ambitious New Product Development (NPD) program for advanced engine technology. From fostering collaboration across the value stream to embracing simulation and hybrid Agile approaches, they offer insights into how Agile has reshaped R&D processes. Henna and Maarit explain how bringing Agile to hardware isn’t about imposing frameworks but adopting a collaborative, flexible mindset that inspires productivity and innovation across teams.

Starting with a Vision for Agile in Product Development

Henna and Maarit delve into the origins of Wärtsilä’s Agile journey, recounting how the NPD program, initiated in 2018, was envisioned to deliver faster releases, co-create with stakeholders, and establish a more satisfying work culture for program teams. Moving beyond traditional project stages, the company embraced Agile methods to accommodate real-time adjustments and maintain a competitive edge.

“Agile success in hardware starts when you focus on the values behind the practices—not just calling it Agile.”

Expanding the Agile Mindset Across the Value Stream

Originally designed as an R&D initiative, the program expanded to engage the entire value stream, including sourcing and manufacturing. Henna explains how cross-departmental collaboration was achieved through inclusive events and ceremonies, bringing in diverse stakeholders from the start. This broad integration marked a shift from isolated R&D to a holistic approach involving the entire value chain, creating a product developed with inputs from every angle.

“Cross-functional collaboration is crucial; bring everyone to the table early and celebrate wins together.”

Integrating Manufacturing for a Smooth NPD Transition

Continue reading Agile in Hardware: Agile Transformation in a Hardware Organization, Wärtsilä Case Study with Henna Torkkola and Maarit Laanti

Eli Goodman: How A/B Testing Can Derail Product Development, A Product Leadership Story

NOTE: We want to thank the folks at Tuple.app for being so generous with their stories, and supporting the podcast. Visit tuple.app/scrum and share them if you find the app useful! Remember, sharing is caring!

Eli Goodman, Head of Product at Tuple, discusses a recurring anti-pattern in product development: the over-reliance on A/B testing. Reflecting on his experiences at two different companies, Eli illustrates how A/B testing, when misused, can slow down product progress and lead to a bloated team structure. He also shares strategies on how to avoid this trap and take responsibility for product decisions. How can product teams avoid hiding behind A/B testing and instead move forward with confidence? Listen in to find out!

Featured Book of the Week: The Idea Factory by Jon Gertner

In this episode, Eli Goodman, Head of Product at Tuple, shares the profound influence of The Idea Factory, a book about Bell Labs, on his career as a product manager. Eli delves into how the book’s lessons on creativity, innovation, and the long-term impact of foundational ideas have shaped his thinking. What can today’s product leaders learn from the story of Bell Labs? How does creativity fuel product success, even in today’s fast-paced tech world? Listen in to find out.

About Eli Goodman

Eli Goodman has been working on software teams for 17 years. He’s been a full-stack developer and engineering manager at both large and small companies, including Etsy and Headspace. A few years ago, Eli transitioned to product management and is now the Head of Product at Tuple, a remote pair programming service used by companies such as Figma, Shopify, and many others in the software industry.

You can link with Eli Goodman on LinkedIn, or email Eli at Eli@Tuple.app.