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Product Thinking Newsletter by Melissa Perri

How Can You De-Risk Big Projects

Published about 2 hours ago • 2 min read

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Hi Product people,

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How do you balance the need for large, high-impact features with the flexibility of smaller, incremental updates?

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This week on Product Thinking, I explored this common dilemma with you all, diving into the pros and cons of each approach. We discussed how to determine the best path forward based on user value, stakeholder needs, and risk management.

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"If we can achieve the goal and achieve value for the user through smaller, discrete features that launch value faster, that's good. But you're gonna want to think about when does that break? Does it actually deliver the full value for the user?"

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We also delved into strategies for de-risking large projects by testing and releasing in smaller phases, ensuring that both customers and stakeholders are aligned and informed throughout the process.

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Are you facing a similar challenge in your product strategy? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Reply to this email or join the conversation on LinkedIn!

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🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Apple | Spotify​

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Looking forward to hearing from you!

See you soon,

Melissa Perri

Founder Product Institute, Board Member, and Teacher
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You’ll hear us talk about:

  • 02:29 - The Value of Incremental Releases

Melissa discusses the benefits of releasing smaller features incrementally, highlighting how they can provide immediate user value and inform future development decisions through feedback.

  • 04:13 - Managing Risk in Long-Term Projects

Here, Melissa emphasizes the importance of de-risking multi-month projects with phased releases and feature flags, ensuring that stakeholders and users are aligned and informed throughout the process.

  • 05:01 - Balancing Stakeholder and User Needs

Melissa explores the tension between meeting stakeholder goals and delivering user value, offering strategies for product managers to align these often competing priorities effectively.

Other Resources:

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THE PRODUCT THINKING PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY

Product Management training at scale for teams and individuals, created by Melissa Perri.

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Do you have a product dilemma you just can’t solve? Are you in need of some pointed career guidance? We’ve got a direct line to Melissa, so now’s your chance to ask her anything you’d like. You can record a voice message here, or you can submit a question via form below. Melissa just might answer it in a future Dear Melissa segment of the podcast.

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The CPO Accelerator is a members-only live virtual course for product leaders taught by Melissa Perri. The move from product leader to VP or CPO can be challenging. It takes a whole new set of skills to succeed at the next level, and you may be the first person at your company to hold this seat at the executive table.

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Product Thinking is the newsletter of Product Institute, Inc. and Melissa Perri.

Product Thinking Newsletter by Melissa Perri

All things Product Management

Subscribe to this newsletter if you are a product manager or product leader interested in leveling up your strategy, process, and insights into technology. I send out emails once a week on Wednesdays.

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