Product management isn't about building features. It's about orchestrating the entire lifecycle from idea to withdrawal.

The technical build is the easy part. 

The real challenge is changing organisations, processes, and people to deliver something customers actually want.

In this episode of "A Few Good People,"  we venture into a masterclass on the product development lifecycle with industry veterans Andrew and Kieron. With a combined half a century of experience in telecoms, tech, and more, they share invaluable insights on navigating the complex journey from idea conception to product retirement. 

🎯 On the Docket:

00:00:00 - Introduction to product lifecycle management

00:04:00 - Ideation: Where great ideas really come from and why some fail

00:20:00 - Strategy: Aligning the organisation and setting priorities

00:44:20 - Definition: Turning concepts into executable plans

01:01:20 - Build & Development: Why it's not just about the technology

01:20:40 - Launch: Strategies for successful market entry

01:35:20 - Early Life Support vs. General Availability

01:44:40 - End of Life: Recognising signals and managing withdrawal

⚡ Key Insights:

Why great ideas typically come from individuals but become "great" through team validation

How "exaptation" (repurposing something for a different use) drives major innovations

The critical difference between software product management and "full" product management

Why physical, in-person collaboration trumps virtual meetings for critical product decisions

How AI is shifting the bottleneck from technical development to organisational change

The importance of maintaining customer relationships during product withdrawal

Why portfolio management matters: Sometimes products exist just to complete your offering

💬 Notable Quotes:

"I don't believe great ideas come from committees. There's a time for a committee, but great ideas usually come from an individual having a moment where they think of something." - Andrew

"Much of the complexity in a launch is not about the technology—it's about the ability to deliver that technology in a way that's great for employees and customers." - Kieron

"For the same reasons, a product manager is the champion of their product. They commit blood, sweat, and tears to it, and it's hard to give up. It's almost like losing a child." - Kieron

"The most bullish thing would be to plan for your product's replacement from the beginning." - Andrew

"It's important to make sure the customer experience for the end-of-life phase is just as important as the launch phase. It's often the poorer sibling." - Kieron

🔗 Where to find A Few Good People:AFGP: https://www.afewgoodpeople.co.uk/ Andrew Radley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-radley-6ab365/Kieron McCann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieronmccann/