In this episode of The Product Handbook, we kick off a two-part series on stakeholder engagement — starting with how to identify the right people, understand their needs, and communicate in a way that builds alignment instead of tension.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify, categorize, and prioritize stakeholders in product development

• Strategies for effective communication with executives, engineers, customers, and more

• How to frame proposals from your stakeholder’s perspective to gain influence

• Techniques for managing expectations and avoiding misalignment early

• Why conflict is normal — and how to turn disagreements into productive collaboration using tools like the Behavioral Change Stairway Model

Whether you’re launching a new feature or aligning on roadmap strategy, this episode gives you the tools to engage stakeholders with empathy, clarity, and impact.

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we go beyond theory and dive into real-world applications of product discovery — showing how teams have used discovery techniques to build better products, avoid costly mistakes, and uncover what users actually need.

You’ll learn:

• How companies use interviews, usability testing, and frameworks like the Double Diamond in live product environments

• Case studies that illustrate discovery done well — and what happens when it’s ignored

• How cross-functional teams collaborate to turn insights into validated solutions

• Lessons from startups and established companies that evolved their discovery practices over time

• Key takeaways you can apply to your own product work, whether you’re leading discovery or trying to get buy-in for it

If you’re tired of theory and want to hear how discovery actually works in practice, this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we explore the essentials of Product Discovery — the phase of product development where great solutions actually begin.

You’ll learn:

• What product discovery is — and why it matters at every stage, not just before launch

• How to shift from a project mindset to a product mindset focused on outcomes

• Core practices like user interviews, analytics, prototyping, and assumption testing

• Tools and frameworks to support your process — including Opportunity Solution Trees and Jira Product Discovery

• Common discovery pitfalls (like building on shaky assumptions) — and how to avoid them

Whether you’re new to discovery or looking to level up your strategy, this episode will help you build smarter by validating what truly matters before you commit to code.

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we break down the Product Life Cycle (PLC) — the classic model for understanding how products evolve from launch to eventual decline.

You’ll learn:

• The key stages: Introduction, Growth, Shake-Out (optional), Maturity, and Decline

• How sales, profits, and cash flow behave at each phase — and what that means for your product strategy

• Which tactics to prioritize: from aggressive marketing and feature rollouts in growth to cost optimization and sunset planning in decline

• How to recognize when your product is shifting stages — and how to adapt before it’s too late

• Modern takes on the PLC, including eco-design, multiple life cycles, and strategies for extending product value through reuse and remanufacturing

Whether you’re launching something new or figuring out how to keep an aging product relevant, this episode gives you a clear and timeless framework for making smarter product decisions.

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we dig into the concept of the Feature Factory — where shipping features is celebrated, but impact is ignored.

You’ll learn:

• What defines a Feature Factory, and how to recognize the warning signs

• Why delivering features without measuring outcomes leads to wasted effort

• How to shift toward empowered product teams that focus on solving real user problems

• What outcome-driven roadmaps look like — and how to use product discovery to prioritize smarter

• The role of leadership, team structure, and validated learning in building products that actually move the needle

If your team is stuck churning out tickets with no clear value — or you’re preparing for interviews where product thinking matters — this episode will help you speak confidently about what great product teams really do.

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we break down the Agile Stage-Gate model — a hybrid approach that combines the structured checkpoints of traditional Stage-Gate with the flexibility and speed of Agile development.

You’ll learn:

• What Stage-Gate is and why it’s used in product development

• How Agile methods are being integrated into this process to improve adaptability

• The key benefits of the hybrid approach — faster time-to-market, better feedback loops, and improved team engagement

• Challenges teams face when combining structure with iteration, and how to make it work in real organizations

• When this model makes sense — and when to stick to pure Agile or Stage-Gate

If you’re working in a company that loves process but needs more flexibility, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for making both worlds work together.

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we dive into the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) framework — a powerful lens for product innovation that focuses on what your customers are actually trying to achieve, not just what they say they want.

You’ll learn:

• The core idea: customers “hire” products to do specific jobs — functional, emotional, or social

• The difference between JTBD-A (Activities) and JTBD-P (Progress) — and why it matters for designing the right solution

• How legendary examples like McDonald’s milkshakes and Netflix applied JTBD thinking to out-innovate competitors

• Interview techniques and research tips to uncover unmet needs and hidden motivations

• A mental model to help you remember the JTBD flow — so you can confidently bring it into discovery sessions or interviews

Whether you’re building a new feature or exploring a pivot, JTBD gives you the mindset to stop building for personas — and start building for progress.

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we explore the Waterfall methodology — the classic, linear approach to managing projects step by step, phase by phase.

You’ll learn:

• The six key phases of Waterfall: Requirements → Design → Implementation → Testing → Deployment → Maintenance

• How to remember the Waterfall sequence with a simple mental model

• When Waterfall works well — and when it absolutely doesn’t

• The biggest critiques (hello, inflexibility) and how hybrid models combine Waterfall planning with Agile adaptability

• Real-world use cases where Waterfall still dominates — from government to manufacturing to high-stakes infrastructure

Whether you’re prepping for an interview, leading a structured project, or just trying to sound less allergic to Gantt charts, this episode will help you navigate Waterfall’s enduring relevance in a world of sprints and standups.

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we explore Kanban — the lean, flexible method that helps teams visualize their workflow, limit chaos, and continuously improve without the ceremony of traditional Agile frameworks.

You’ll learn:

• The core principles of Kanban: Visualize work, limit WIP, manage flow, make policies explicit, implement feedback loops, and improve collaboratively

• How to use Kanban boards to manage bottlenecks and spot blockers in real time

• Why WIP limits are the secret weapon for reducing context-switching and burnout

• The difference between Kanban and Scrum, and when a hybrid approach might be best

• How Value Stream Management expands Kanban thinking across the entire org — helping you optimize for real value delivery, not just task completion

Whether you’re leading a dev team, wrangling cross-functional work, or trying to make sense of 97 sticky notes on your board, this episode gives you a clear and flexible framework for making work visible — and improving it as you go.

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we explore the Crystal Agile Framework — a lesser-known but powerful alternative to traditional Agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban.

You’ll learn:

• What makes Crystal different: a context-driven, people-first framework that adapts to team size, project risk, and organizational complexity

• The seven core properties that define Crystal teams: from osmotic communication and reflective improvement to personal safety and frequent delivery

• How Crystal’s color-coded variations scale with project criticality (without scaling bureaucracy)

• The framework’s unique strengths in environments where rigid Agile processes struggle — like regulated industries or highly specialized teams

• Tips and mnemonics to remember Crystal’s guiding principles and apply them in real-world scenarios or interviews

Whether you’re working in a complex org, leading a small dev team, or just looking for a more adaptable way to “be agile,” this episode will help you see Agile through a Crystal-clear lens.