Post on 24-Jan-2018
transcript
Chris ButlerSenior Product Strategist
Philosophie in NYC
Over 15 years of product and BD
Microsoft, Waze, Horizon Ventures, KAYAK
Started my own company, failed
chrisbutler@philosophie.is
@chrizbot
What we will talk about today
● Cautionary tale
● Why does agile work?
● What is strategy?
● Why does agile need strategy?
● How do you create a good strategy?
● What can you do to test the strategy?
● How to link it to day-to-day?
All resources available at: https://goo.gl/pwTqeW
What is bad strategy?
● Failure to face the challenge
● Mistaking goals for strategy
● Bad strategic objectives - just a list of things to do
● Fluff
Why is bad strategy bad?
● Doesn’t link high level with day to day action
● Focuses the team on the wrong things
○ Or doesn’t focus the team
● Avoids tough decisions
● Makes the wrong tradeoffs
○ Or assumes that you have to make tradeoffs at all
Strategy kernelA diagnosis: an explanation of the nature of the challenge. A good diagnosis
simplifies the often overwhelming complexity of reality by identifying certain
aspects of the situation as being the critical ones.
A guiding policy: an overall approach chosen to cope with or overcome the
obstacles identified in the diagnosis.
Coherent actions: steps that are coordinated with one another to support the
accomplishment of the guiding policy.
Common weaknessesLinked to coherent action plan
Devoid of bias
Balances commitment and flexibility - highest response in McKinsey survey
Group is convicted to act on strategy - 2nd highest response in McKinsey survey
Embraces uncertainty - 2nd lowest response in McKinsey survey
Depends on privileged insights - lowest response in McKinsey survey
Ahead of trends
Granular about where to compete
Taps a true source of advantage
It beats the market
Obeys strategic ‘laws of gravity’ - from Exec McKinsey article
KPIs match strategy - from Exec McKinsey article
Balances growth and risk - from Exec McKinsey article
Anticipates the changing future landscape - from Edge Perspectives
Remember
● Strategy is key to agile groups’ success.
● Strategy isn’t something that you just create, you iterate
on it.
● Have that conversation about strategy, write it down, and
make it part of your process every day.
Want to get some help? Office hours for strategy+agile to be
scheduled, email me for more info at:chrisbutler@philosophie.is
Thank you
All resources available at: https://goo.gl/pwTqeW
Upcoming Courses
New York
Apply Atwww.productschool.com
www.productschool.com
December CohortWeekdays: December 6thWeekends: December 3rd