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Master the Art of the Product Manager 'No'

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Re: Master the Art of the Product Manager 'No'

#41

Post by psunavy03 »

ryandrake wrote: post #25
asoneth wrote: post #11

There are many kinds of "negative" responses: 0. This idea is bad. 1. This idea is probably bad, but if someone wants to put together a more compelling argument we will discuss it at a future meeting. 2. This idea needs to be more fully developed before we can decide whether it is good or bad. 3. This idea is probably good, but it will remain in backlog limbo until someone makes a compelling argument that it is a pri…

In most companies I've worked, in order to actually implement an idea, you need to prove a few things, whether the person proposing it is the PM, an engineer, or any other person involved in the product: 1. The idea is technically feasible 2. The idea aligns with company's business goals 3. The idea is our team's responsibility and cannot be done by another team 4. The idea is more important than the other things our…

Or you work at a non-software company where the technical folks ultimately report to a non-technical boss, or are outnumbered by nontechnical executives. In which case, there's the real danger of a bunch of 0 getting shoved down your collective throat to the tune of "it's all a priority, get it done."

Re: Master the Art of the Product Manager 'No'

#42

Post by caminante »

JohnMakin wrote: post #34
gopalv wrote: post #3

This sort of advice is parodied in "Yes, Prime Minister" as the 4 step strategy for "crisis management" 1: Don't worry, nothing's going to happen. 2: Something may be happen but we should wait and see 3: Maybe we should do something about it, but there is no clear action 4: Maybe there was something we could've done, but it's too late now Stringing along a bunch of people who think they are being heard and listened t…

On climate change, are we somewhere between step 3 and 4? It sure looks a lot that way to me. Maybe closer to 4 soon. That conversation is exhausting, or kind of the inverse of this, overwhelming confidence in the success of future technologies that do not really exist yet.

Re: climate change, what can the US and other actors do for "support" when China's still at Yes Minister step 1? China's the biggest emitter and doesn't care. [0]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_greenhous...

Re: Master the Art of the Product Manager 'No'

#43

Post by rat87 »

caminante wrote: post #42
JohnMakin wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On climate change, are we somewhere between step 3 and 4? It sure looks a lot that way to me. Maybe closer to 4 soon. That conversation is exhausting, or kind of the inverse of this, overwhelming confidence in the success of future technologies that do not really exist yet.

Re: climate change, what can the US and other actors do for "support" when China's still at Yes Minister step 1? China's the biggest emitter and doesn't care. [0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_greenhous...

Start by not doing

But China on global warming

Second step do more as a country

Third step try to shame or encourage China and other countries into doing more

The US is still in the lead for total emissions historically and has a higher emissions per person. If it ignores it's responsibility it makes it very easy for China not to mention India or other lower total emissions countries to do the same.

China is doing something if not enough. The goal should not be trying to find a way to avoid responsibility because that's how you get all countries to avoid doing anything. The point is too keep pushing all countries starting with yours to to more

Re: Master the Art of the Product Manager 'No'

#44

Post by 7thpower »

barryvan wrote: post #32
writtenAnswer wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, what do you expect from AI generated responses LOL. It is literally from some BS article from some dude who has never been a successful Product Manager. I think its a funny website to browse and say "haha", but nothing more.

Ah -- I missed that it was AI-generated! That being the case, you're not wrong.

You’re not at work, don’t be so agreeable! Tell them it’s a great article and the author would have time to write their own if they weren’t so busy having to explain things to those damned engineers.

Re: Master the Art of the Product Manager 'No'

#45

Post by Uptrenda »

These all just sound like a way to say no without owning up to it. People can tell when you're bullshitting and will feel resentment. From my perspective: it feels like you're not being listened to. I would instantly think less of anyone who used language like this (and have.) Just say you can't do something and explain why.

Re: Master the Art of the Product Manager 'No'

#46

Post by dgfitz »

rat87 wrote: post #43
caminante wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Re: climate change, what can the US and other actors do for "support" when China's still at Yes Minister step 1? China's the biggest emitter and doesn't care. [0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_greenhous...

Start by not doing But China on global warming Second step do more as a country Third step try to shame or encourage China and other countries into doing more The US is still in the lead for total emissions historically and has a higher emissions per person. If it ignores it's responsibility it makes it very easy for China not to mention India or other lower total emissions countries to do the same. China is doing so…

Yeah, that worked out phenomenally with US-china trade agreements!

Re: Master the Art of the Product Manager 'No'

#47

Post by cwbrandsma »

asoneth wrote: post #11

There are many kinds of "negative" responses: 0. This idea is bad. 1. This idea is probably bad, but if someone wants to put together a more compelling argument we will discuss it at a future meeting. 2. This idea needs to be more fully developed before we can decide whether it is good or bad. 3. This idea is probably good, but it will remain in backlog limbo until someone makes a compelling argument that it is a pri…

You forgot: Engineering is requesting this. So no.

Re: Master the Art of the Product Manager 'No'

#50

Post by Terr_ »

Closely related, documenting examples of problems or situations the product will not try to help with is also extremely powerful.

You'd think "it does X, Y, Z, and nothing else" would be clear-enough, but in practice a blanket prohibition is too vague to have force, it's an invitation for scope creep. So saying "it will not handle W" is useful, even if it seems redundant at first glance.

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