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In this conversation, Dave Prior and Scott Sehlhorst discuss the importance of improving the product plan while executing it. They explore the common problem of companies jumping straight into execution without considering what they should build and why. Scott emphasizes the need to shift from a mindset of control to one of influence, where product managers focus on solving problems and creating value for customers and the business. They also discuss the concept of uncertainty and sensitivity and how to navigate it using impact mapping to identify needs and changes. In this conversation, Scott Sehlhorst discusses the importance of shifting into a business model and the need to create changes and hypotheses. He emphasizes the process of narrowing down the target population and quantifying the impact of changes. Scott also highlights the significance of determining sensitivity and making connections between cause and effect. He introduces the confidence rubric and explains how to prioritize experiments. The conversation concludes with the idea of constantly improving the plan and focusing on the next most important thing to learn.

Takeaways

Companies often jump straight into execution without considering what they should build and why.

Product managers should shift from a mindset of control to one of influence, focusing on solving problems and creating value for customers and the business.

Uncertainty and sensitivity are inherent in product development, and it is impossible to know everything before building a product.

Using impact mapping can help identify needs and changes, allowing for experimentation and learning in an uncertain environment. Shifting into a business model involves creating changes and hypotheses.

Narrowing down the target population is crucial for effective experimentation.

Quantifying the impact of changes helps determine the potential outcomes.

Using a confidence rubric can aid in decision-making and prioritization.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:00 The Fear of Being Late vs. the Fear of Being Wrong

05:58 Backlog Rationalization Workshop

10:00 Moving from Control to Influence

13:07 Building the Right Things

20:00 Navigating Uncertainty and Sensitivity

29:11 Using Impact Mapping to Identify Needs and Changes

31:56 Shifting into Business Model

33:05 Creating Changes and Hypotheses

34:32 Narrowing Down the Target Population

35:15 Quantifying the Impact

36:34 Determining Sensitivity

38:21 Making Connections and Causal Relationships

39:36 Confidence and Uncertainty

43:00 The Confidence Rubric

44:23 Prioritizing Experiments

49:29 What's the Next Most Important Thing to Learn

53:28 Improving the Plan

Links from the Podcast

The Empathy Map Podcast where Scott and I discuss Impact Mapping

https://on.soundcloud.com/szLXeqe5Q6t2Tf9b8

Scott’s blog post about using a Confidence Rubric

https://uxpressia.com/blog/make-decisions-about-business-experiments

Contacting Scott:

Scott’s Blog at Tyner Blain: tynerblain.com/blog/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sehlhorst/

Twitter: twitter.com/sehlhorst

Email: [email protected]