Si Alhir
Advisor to The AgilePM CoP

Webinar Summary:What is Agile Product Management? Product Management involves planning and marketing a product while Product Development or Engineering involves realizing the product.

Agility is a value system, composed of values and principles, which emphasizes people, results, collaboration, and responsiveness. Scrum is a framework that organizes work for maximum efficiency and effectiveness based on the Agile value system using three roles, three ceremonies, and three artifacts.

While Agility and Scrum are conceptually simple, many organizations and teams enthusiastically focus on enacting practices while not readily absorbing the underlying values & principles and ultimately don't gain the benefits but become burdened by adopting Agility, especially considering the impact of Agility on Product Management and Product Development. Also, many other organizations and teams enthusiastically focus on adopting and adapting the framework while not readily aware of the impacts of their adaptations on the underlying values & principles and ultimately don't gain the benefits but become burdened by adopting Scrum, especially considering the impact of Scrum on Product Management and Product Development.

Appreciating the relationship between the organizational Product Manager role and Scrum's Product Owner role is at the core of the answer to the question "What is Agile Product Management?" Additionally, appreciating the nuances of the Agile value system, Scrum framework, and an enterprise view (scalability) is essential. As organizations and teams drift from the Agile value system and further adapt Scrum without authentic awareness and appreciation of the fundamentals, confusion ensues and myths are born! Furthermore, its concerning for the practice as such myths are proliferated by both the Product Management and Product Development communities.

This four part webinar series focuses on demystifying Agile Product Management.The first webinar focuses on dispelling common myths and fostering clarity within the context of an overview of Agility, Scrum, Product Management, and Agile Product Management. Follow-on webinars delve deeper into specific aspects of Agile Product Management to cover topics such as Visioning, Roadmapping, and Requirements.

About the Presenter: Si Alhir LinkedIn and Blog is a Practitioner. He has over two decades of experience in all aspects of technology product/services management (planning and marketing) and engineering (development), including business development, client management, and consulting services around technology products.

With a proven performance record in aligning Business and Technology using industry-recognized and organization-tailored Lean, Agile, and other Best Practices, he focuses on transforming organizations/enterprises by cultivating effective Communities of Practices (CoPs). He is commonly categorized as an "Essentialist" and "Resultant" who is measured by
"Stickiness": As a Consultant, he focuses on doing what is Essential for achieving Results where he is measured by the sustainability of his influence. He is "Pragmatic not Dogmatic" and combines an "Appreciative Inquiry" with "Servant Leadership" approach to be an "Appreciative Servant" and "Inquisitive Leader".

He is deeply committed to working with individuals, teams, and organizations/enterprises to actualize their potential and achieve an enduring competitive advantage. His clients have ranged from start-ups to the Fortune 500. He is also a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (MBB), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), IT Project Management Certified Professional (IT Project+), and e-Business Certified Professional (e-Biz+).

He is the author of three books and two articles in the Encyclopedia of Software Engineering among other publications. And he commonly speaks at professional events.

You can get Si's Slide Deck Here.

Part of the Twitter conversation is shown below. The conversation continues, join in at #pmv.

You may also post questions and thoughts that weren't addressed during the presentation in the comments section on this posting.

Jim_Holland:Agility cannot be applied at the business level. Really, why not? Can't Finance and Operations be agile?

DerickWorkman:agility is key to maintaining competitive advantage.
Jim_Holland: The enterprise is comprised of business and technology teams. Product Management is the bridge for the market and business.

jbrett: RT @Jim_Holland:Agile is the art of competition and collaboration
Jim_Holland:Time is the universal currency. I need more TIME $$$

ValWorkman:The Art of War in context of Agile Software Processes. I love it.
Jim_Holland:Agile is the art of competition and collaboration.
jbrett:Agility focuses on people, results, collaboration and responsiveness Si Alhir

JeremySWright:Listening in on agile product management overview webinar.
Jim_Holland:Tweeting the Agile PM webinar. That's a "A" folks
ValWorkman:Debating the Product Manager Role and the Product Owner Role.
Jim_Holland: SCRUM has an "unhealthy adaption"

facetnated: Listening to 'Agile Product Management' webinar.
ValWorkman:Exciting concept of community of practice for Agile PM.

HakanKilic:Let's see what agile product management is all about
Jim_Holland:Where there's pain in the process, there's degradation

jbrett: @ValWorkman @mkabir can't institutionalize collab. You have to create culture, but culture can be influenced by what gets celebrated
ValWorkman: I got into trouble telling stories my whole life. Now their important?
Jim_Holland: Product Management has to be the guidepost for conversation in defining products.
Jim_Holland: RT @ValWorkman: @mkabir Yes, how do you institutionalize collaboration?@jim_holland Communications has to be the 1st step
ValWorkman: @mkabir Yes, how do you institutionalize collaboration?
Jim_Holland: Let's face it, it's all about Problems and Solutions. Is there a lifecycle of a solution? I believe so.
ValWorkman: Technology folks are trying to keep up with PM. Never heard that. Most folks complain that PM is too slow.
Jim_Holland: "Hey Development, I've always been agile!" says the product manager. Don't create wedges.
jbrett: To put a wall between management and technology side of the house is immediately "un agile"

mkabir: @jbrett the real q is: is collaboration practiced or is it just a buzz word?

ValWorkman: @artpetty Product Managers are mini CEO. At least we like to think so. What does the CEO think?
Jim_Holland: "Agile PM is product management rooted in the Agile perspective" (principles, techniques, practices)
Jim_Holland: Product Management, "all about getting things done" "The mini-CEO"
ValWorkman: The enterprise is composed of business, technology, people, process... business objectives are drivers to the three legs.
ValWorkman: The worse thing to do is do Agile without other best-practices
Jim_Holland: RT @HakanKilic:Scrum is defined as only having what is essential for success, is agile trimming the fat? LEAN, very LEAN
Bradley_Kravitz: What is the "business?" Internal or external business? Both?
ValWorkman:An incompetent team that doesn't communicate will have problems.
Jim_Holland: the Product Owner represents the business. Responsible for the product and delviering profit/value
ValWorkman: @facetnated May the 'Define-Detail' point will be elaborated upon? Can you formulate a question for Si?
HakanKilic: Scrum is defined as only having what is essential for success, is agile trimming the fat?
Jim_Holland: SCRUM allows us the wrap our hands around the inefficiencies in the process

jbrett: @ValWorkman since so much of product dev is project based I think yes

ValWorkman: @jbrett Growing cultures of communication takes time, can it be made Agile?
facetnated: I'm not sure I get the 'Define-Detail Perspective'.
Jim_Holland: "Hey we need a dedicated PM, we need PM to co-locate with us" That's not their role.

ValWorkman: Result driven structure indicates if trust is important, the driving purpose of the team is problem resolution, not creativity.
EricJHannon: Insuring quality could be difficult
HakanKilic: @Jim_HollandPM = mini CEO -> I'm continuously surprised how difficult product mangers find relating revenue to problems
Bradley_Kravitz: Please elaborate on your comment that "Product Owner is not part of the Scrum Team."
Jim_Holland: What role manages Feature Creep in Agile? PO or PM?
facetnated: He references FLOW and PULL (lean concepts) but hasn't really talked about Lean.
Jim_Holland: Use a burn down to show progress. No "burn-out", burn down
DerickWorkman: I've seen the product manager act as product owner on the scrum team, but they are continuously performing their pm activities as well.
ValWorkman: @JeremySWright Right, If I know how to avoid problems I wouldn't have any.
Jim_Holland: RT @jbrett: RT @ValWorkman:The worse thing to do is do Agile without other best-practices. @jim_holland Right On!
Jim_Holland: I have seen Product Owners and PMs work for PRODUCT MANAGEMENT. There's harmony - consistency
Jim_Holland: is the PO the PM and vice versa? The mini CEO should be leading, it's the PRODUCT MANAGER
jbrett: RT @ValWorkman:The worse thing to do is do Agile without other best-practices.
JeremySWright: Avoid dysfunctions. Sounds like sound advice.
Jim_Holland:Changing the harmony and flow adds to dysfunction.
ValWorkman: Sounds like lots of myths on both sides of PO/PM

JeremySWright: @Jim_HollandAgree that LinkedIn/twitter, etc seem to be a good communication vehicle. Question is how to do this effectively?

Jim_Holland: @EricJHannon I like @JeremySWright to comment on this one?
DavidWLocke:Scale as larger team or more teams?
Jim_Holland: RT @EricJHannon:Insuring quality could be difficult. It does and many companies leave Agile because of QA and Support issues.
Jim_Holland: Stop building "wedges" in the product lifecycle. Advice
mkabir: @Jim_Holland comm is THE key to collaboration. But, in corp that's 1 of the biggest challenge.
ValWorkman: To scale we must be sensitive to the primary values of Agile.

DavidWLocke: Feature creep controlled continuously, at the end of the iteration, the PO/PM just doesn't accept it, but waiting that long not lean.
ValWorkman: Dysfunctions caused by mapping Product Managers and Product Owners
Jim_Holland: RT @HakanKilic: @Jim_Holland PM = mini CEO I'm continuously surprised how difficult product mangers find relating revenue to problems
Jim_Holland: RT @JeremySWright: Avoid dysfunctions. Sounds like sound advice. Don't you wish every CxO and VP Dev would listen and apply?
Bradley_Kravitz: What happens when in organizations, fopr a variy of reasons, the Product Owner is also the PROJECT Manager?
Jim_Holland: I like the idea of using LinkedIn and other Social Media as a communication vehicle for content success and customer knowledge/ideas
Jim_Holland: I've found a solution for the recession. More Agile headcount!
HakanKilic: remote PM is always more difficult, need to be that much more transparent and organized
Jim_Holland: RT @pganza:In the past, we had PM's and TPM's (tech.), the break-up of activities is quite similar. Same roles/different dev method?
DavidWLocke: turn those constraints into test cases at the white box stage
DavidWLocke: No to the infinite spec, but you can still control with constraints.
Jim_Holland: RT @JeremySWright: Agree LinkedIn/twitter, etc seem to be a good communication vehicle. Question is how to do this effectively? Ideas?

pganza: In a past life we had PM's and TPM's (technical), the break-up of activities is quite similar
Bradley_Kravitz: Does this methodology depend on the team size?
Jim_Holland: RT @ValWorkman: RT @EricJHannon: @Jim_Holland I agree. The reaction is to go down the path of infinite specification Never ending Dev.
facetnated: His definition of the mythical APO doesn't match my understanding of Product Owner. The PO has the problem. Not owns the solution.

Jim_Holland: @ValWorkman How do we eliminate the myths and create common truths?
ValWorkman: RT @EricJHannon: @Jim_Holland I agree. The reaction is to go down the path of infinite specification
Jim_Holland: The fluidity of the team is key. "The triangle of success" PO - [PM] - Development.
DerickWorkman: I wish some of my customers were on this call. They'll have to see the recording. Good discussion. Product Owner role is misunderstood
Jim_Holland: "Hey we've transitioned versus transformed" I like that. REAL CHANGE ADOPTION
DavidWLocke: This slide is the OODA Loop, which really requires a ton of training and ongoing training to work.

michaelrhopkin: Communities of Practice (CoPs) drive sustainability and scalability
Jim_Holland: Organization takes time and leadership. Agile is not an adoption, it's a mindset and company change. All about VALUE
HakanKilic: @jbrett
Jim_Holland: RT @jbrett: Successful agile organizations treat defects as stories - Si Alhir
DerickWorkman: Key mechanism for sustainability is a Community of Practice (CoP)
Jim_Holland: RT @mkabir: @Jim_Holland comm is THE key to collaboration. But, in corp that's 1 of the biggest challenge.(True, but unfortunate)
Jim_Holland: SCRUM scales very well.
jbrett: @zacharyfiner thinking same thing...:)
JeremySWright: Wondering this myself. Does team/company size change this? RT @Bradley_Kravitz:Does this methodology depend on the team size?

zacharyfiner: I probably should have done some more homework on agile PM prior to attending. Still, good context to avoid myths while learning more.
Jim_Holland: RT @HakanKilic:remote PM is always difficult, need to be that much more transparent and organized. Add geo constraint and offshore 2
jbrett: Successful agile organizations treat defects as stories - Si Alhir

trevorrotzien: "Context is crucial" Absolutely! No methodology can be applied context-free. Ignoring this sparks most of the angry debate re: Agile.

Jim_Holland: @jbrett @jim_holland Could you get a copy or link and tweet?

zacharyfiner: Coat metaphor definitely resonates!
Jim_Holland: RT @jbrett: Matt McConnell of Knowlagent gave a talk at #iei about culture and organizational change that is so relevant to thisconvo
HakanKilic: Helps to keep us PM sane ;) RT @JeremySWright: Good to see product managers still have a sense of humor.
Jim_Holland: RT @JeremySWright: Good to see product managers still have a sense of humor.@jim_holland Yes, and SMILE a lot too! Makes people wonder
jbrett: Matt McConnell of Knowlagent gave a great talk at #iei about culture and organizational change that is so relevant to this convo
DavidWLocke: Agile is a bad word, because of bad expectations
JeremySWright: Good to see product managers still have a sense of humor.
DavidWLocke: Agile as bad word, because some advocates of it really just want to hack, or build what they want to build without limit
DavidWLocke: Adoption is not the throwing off of a mindset.
Jim_Holland: "Agility is a bad words in some environments." I guess FAILURE leads to bad words?

DavidWLocke: Adoption is the taking on of a mindset.
HakanKilic: Org culture is so important - RT @Jim_Holland:Agile is not an adoption, it's a mindset and company change. All about VALUE
jbrett: Scrum is a framework: Focus on it's essence
Jim_Holland: RT @trevorrotzien:Great #prodmgmt / Agile webinar Ryma folks!/ @jim_holland Agree!

trevorrotzien: @ValWorkmanYour fingers must be tired! (Twitter + webinar Q&A)
jbrett: Wow. has it been an hour already?>
trevorrotzien: Great #prodmgmt / Agile webinar Ryma folks!

trevorrotzien: @botgirlq Yes, even so-called facts are contextual. My goal (typically as facilitator/coach) is to help group reach common definitions.
facetnated: I guess I'll have to disagree with who he thinks the PO is. Goal Donor/Gold Owner.
trevorrotzien: PO must own the "solution", but the business solution, not the technical one.

botgirlq: @trevorrotzien Facts are seldom the issue in disagreements. It's usually the meaning (which we of course, think of as facts.)
Jim_Holland:It would be a great poll to see where/why the discussion angst originates?
Jim_Holland: RT @jbrett: @Jim_Holland I've got the deck, but the video may or may not be available. I'll see what I can do.#iei
Jim_Holland: RT @DavidWLocke:Agile as bad word, becuz some advocates of it really just want to hack, or build what they want to build without limit

jbrett: @Jim_Holland I've got the deck, but the video may or may not be available. I'll see what I can do.#iei
DavidWLocke: @ValWorkman The CEO says to his mini-CEOs, thank God, you're here. I've got other things to do. No, that's your decision to make now.

cindyalvarez: @DavidWLocke Not necessarily - brand-new products often more expensive to support b/c not a whole product yet.
DerickWorkman: @DavidWLocke Thanks for the reference. Looks like an excellent book. Ch 3 address the exact issue on P/L of Features.

zacharyfiner: @ValWorkman Any other recommendations as to resources for homework prior to the next session? Whether books or links -- Thanks!

DavidWLocke: @DerickWorkman Let's hope that features don't open new markets. You don't win by losing focus.
DavidWLocke: @cindyalvarez If you are reducing ops costs, you are not innovating, nor creating categories. You have a commodity on your hands.<
DerickWorkman: @facetnated In your opinion what's the role of Product Owner? Interested as this discussion always comes up with my clients.
Jim_Holland: RT @trevorrotzien:Webinar makes me want to workshop/roleplay some of the challenges in the team & org. How will execs get this? [$$$]

trevorrotzien: @ValWorkman: Multi-tasking is recognized as fundamentally flawed, yet here we are. It's flawed _and_ addictive.

ValWorkman: @zacharyfiner I wish everyone could have read "Extreme Project Manager" from our own @pattiev prior to
Jim_Holland: RT @trevorrotzien: @Jim_Holland: Common truths can only be established via shared goals, implying shared vestment in the outcome.

trevorrotzien: RT @botgirlq Facts are seldom the issue in disagreements. It's usually the meaning [Good point, maintain awareness of this]

ValWorkman: @facetnated There will be many disagreements, some passionate. That's what makes this so exciting.

ValWorkman: @trevorrotzien I wasn't able to keep up, either from a thought perspective, or transcribing