Product vs. Project Operating Models

Topics Covered:

• The Big Question: Can product and project models run side by side?
• Defining the Operating Models: Breakdown of product vs. project models. Why outcomes vs. outputs matter.
• Why the Shift Happened: How the history of software delivery shaped our current challenges.
• When Project Models Still Make Sense: Examples like GDPR, accessibility, and other one-off initiatives.
• Gray Areas and Edge Cases: Accessibility, internal compliance, and examples from Petra’s course work.
• Framing Work as Product or Project: Why even product teams need to think in project terms sometimes.
• Working Cross-Functionally: How to collaborate with HR, Finance, and other departments still in project mode.
• Dual Lenses, Not Rival Camps: Seeing your work through both frameworks, depending on context and constraints.
• Pattern Recognition Over Time: Learning when to switch models based on repeating challenges.
• Feedback Loops and “Done-ness”: How feedback loops reveal whether work is actually finished—or just paused.

Key Takeaways:

• Don’t get dogmatic: models are tools, not rules.
• Project models work well for one-time, compliance-driven work.
• Product models shine with evergreen challenges and durable teams.
• You can—and often should—use both lenses.
• Feedback loops help determine whether something is truly done.

Resources & Links:

• Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org
• Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com

Mentioned in the episode:

• The Product Operating Model by Marty Cagan
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Product Discovery Courses by Teresa
• Okta
• Outlook