In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, agile methodologies such as Scrum have revolutionized the way products are conceived, developed, and delivered. Yet, amidst the streamlined processes and collaborative efforts of Scrum teams, a perplexing scenario has emerged for me: a product manager/ owner inquires about the workings of a recently released functionality.
Imagine having multiple grooming sessions, a sprint planning meeting, daily stand ups, and a sprint demo culminating in the release of the new functionality, only to be met with the unexpected query from the product manager: "How does the feature work? I need to write the release notes." This seemingly innocuous question harbors deeper implications, hinting at potential gaps in communication, understanding, oversight within the development process and in general a lack of effort.
In the Scrum framework, the product manager or product owner plays a pivotal role in representing the interests of stakeholders and ensuring that the development team delivers value to the users. They are responsible for defining and prioritizing the product backlog, providing clear requirements and acceptance criteria, and guiding the development process to align with the overall product vision and goals. By actively engaging with the development team, the product manager can provide valuable insights, feedback, and direction throughout the development lifecycle, ultimately driving the success of the product.
So how does this happen? How can the product manager be unaware of the workings of a newly released functionality?
Lack of Involvement: The product manager may not have been actively involved in the development process leading up to the release. This could be due to competing priorities, lack of communication, or a misunderstanding of their role within the Scrum team.
Miscommunication or Misalignment: There may have been a breakdown in communication between the development team and the product manager regarding the details of the new functionality. If requirements were not clearly defined or if changes were made during development without proper communication, the product manager may not have been adequately informed.
Assumption of Understanding: Sometimes, there is an assumption that the product manager understands the functionality simply because they were involved in high-level discussions or decision-making processes. However, this assumption may not always hold true, especially if the details of the functionality were not explicitly communicated or if there were changes made during implementation.
Lack of Product Ownership: In some cases, there may be a lack of clear ownership or accountability for the product within the organization. If multiple stakeholders are involved in decision-making or if there is ambiguity regarding who is responsible for defining and prioritizing requirements, it can lead to confusion and gaps in understanding.
Technical Complexity: If the new functionality is highly technical or complex in nature, the product manager may not have the technical expertise to fully understand how it works. In such cases, there should be mechanisms in place for the development team to provide explanations and support to ensure that the product manager has a clear understanding of the functionality.
So what happens as a result of these actions? What are the challenges?
Quality Assurance Concerns: Releasing a new functionality without the product manager's awareness or understanding poses significant risks in terms of quality assurance. Without proper review and oversight from the product owner, there's a higher likelihood of introducing bugs, errors, or usability issues that could impact the product's stability and reliability.
Potential for Re-Work: If the product manager identifies issues or discrepancies in the functionality after release, developers may be required to address them through re-work or updates. This can impact their workload and timelines for other tasks or projects.
Customer Impact: I would be concerned about the potential impact on customers if the functionality was released without the product manager's awareness. If there are issues or discrepancies in the functionality, it could affect customer satisfaction and trust in the product.
Implications for Team Dynamics: A scenario where the product manager is asking about a new functionality after its release can have implications for team dynamics and morale. It may lead to feelings of frustration or resentment among team members, as well as erode trust in the development process and the ability of the team to deliver value effectively.
Addressing these challenges requires a proactive approach to communication, collaboration, and ownership within the Scrum team. Clear communication channels should be established, and all stakeholders should be actively engaged throughout the development process to ensure alignment and understanding. Additionally, roles and responsibilities should be clearly defined, with mechanisms in place to support the product manager or owner in their role as the advocate for the product and its users. By addressing these underlying issues, Scrum teams can minimize the occurrence of scenarios where the product manager is unaware of the workings of newly released functionality, ultimately driving the success of the product.
In the dynamic world of software development, post-release inquiries from product managers may serve as a cautionary tale, highlighting potential gaps in communication, understanding, and oversight within Scrum teams. While the prevalence of this phenomenon in big companies remains uncertain, proactive measures can be taken to mitigate its occurrence and foster greater alignment, transparency, and collaboration across the product development lifecycle. By embracing clear communication and a culture of continuous learning, Scrum teams can navigate the complexities of agile development and deliver value to customers with confidence and clarity.
In forthcoming post, I will delve deeper into my strategies for:
- Improvements on communication
- Improvements on collaboration
- Improvements on ownership and engagement
- Definition of roles and responsibilities