Prioritization: The Superpower of Every Product Manager
As we go into PI (Program Increment) planning this week, I have been thinking a lot about prioritization. Over the last few weeks, to prepare for this PI, my team and I have been reviewing our priorities and having difficult conversations about what we can deliver, given our capacity and what we must remain in our backlog.
So, why is prioritization so crucial for product planning?
Here are just a few reasons:
1. Focus on what matters most: Resources and capacity are finite, and time is even more precious. Prioritization helps us ruthlessly identify the features that deliver the highest impact, ensuring my team is not distracted by the "nice-to-haves." This laser focus translates to faster development, quicker wins, and happier users (and bonus: stakeholders!).
2. Align with business goals: Every product exists within a broader context. Prioritization ensures our efforts align with the company's overall strategy and contribute to its success metrics. Whether boosting user engagement, saving cost, or increasing revenue, prioritization helps us navigate the bigger picture.
3. Build consensus and trust: Stakeholders come with diverse perspectives and agendas. When done transparently and collaboratively, prioritization fosters healthy discussions, builds consensus, and garners trust. Sharing the "why" behind our choices, empowers everyone to understand the bigger picture.
4. Manage expectations and deliver on time: Let's face it: feature creep is real. Prioritization helps us manage expectations by setting realistic goals and timelines. It enables us to communicate effectively with stakeholders, ensuring everyone is on the same page and minimizing surprises.
5. Adapt to change (because it happens): Agility is key. Prioritization equips us to adapt to technological advancements, market trends, user needs, and competitor strategies. By regularly reevaluating priorities, we ensure our product remains relevant and competitive.
But how do you prioritize effectively?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are some helpful tips:
Define your criteria: What factors matter most? User impact, business value, technical feasibility? Establish clear criteria to guide your decision-making.
Utilize frameworks: Popular frameworks like RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) or MoSCoW (Must-have, Should-have, Could-have, Won't-have) can provide structure and objectivity.
Gather diverse perspectives: Get input from stakeholders, users, and the development team. Different viewpoints enrich the decision-making process.
Be transparent and communicate: Explain your rationale and invite discussion. Open communication fosters trust and understanding.
Review and iterate: Prioritization is a continuous process. Regularly revisit your priorities and adapt as needed.
Prioritization is about saying "yes" to the right things at the right time. By mastering this art, you unlock the true potential of your product and set yourself up for success.
