A brand new problem for software program product managers


The temptation, in fact, is so as to add as many options as doable, as a result of the competitors is actually already including them as quick as doable. And this places us again into the scenario the place “featuritis” or characteristic creep threatens to bloat and overcomplicate a product — one thing that good product managers are cautious to keep away from.

Coding unleashed

The issue is made worse by the truth that builders can add options so shortly that they’ll — and possibly will — bypass regular processes and simply add the characteristic with out anybody stopping to ask if the characteristic is effective, fascinating, and even helpful. These processes — which bear in mind safety points, authorized components, and market forces — exist for a cause. Bypassing them can have critical ramifications. The problem shifts from not having sufficient time to construct what you wish to not having the time to resolve what to not construct.

This can require a cultural shift in organizations. Product managers should shift from attempting to persuade their group to squeeze another characteristic right into a product cycle to attempting to maintain superfluous options out. As an alternative of being pressured by higher administration so as to add extra options, forces will begin to muster to restrict the flexibility of groups so as to add options simply to maintain issues underneath management.