Product Mastery Now for Product Managers, Leaders, and Innovators

Chad McAllister, PhD
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  • MANAGEMENT
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Product Mastery Now for Product Managers, Leaders, and Innovators

Welcome to Product Mastery Now, where you learn the 7 knowledge areas for product mastery. We teach the product management practices that elevate your influence and create products your customers love as you move toward product mastery. To learn about all seven areas and assess your strengths in product mastery, go to my website -- https://productmasterynow.com -- and click the Podcast button at the top of the page. Hosted by Chad McAllister, product management professor and practitioner.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    519: Product verification, most important of the 19 activities of product management – with Nishant Parikh

    How product managers can adapt core responsibilities across different organizations and contexts Watch on YouTube TLDR Through his research and practical experience at MasterCard, Nishant Parikh identified 19 key activities that define the role of software product managers. He emphasizes that these activities vary based on context (large vs. small organizations, B2B vs. B2C, Agile vs. Waterfall). The discussion reveals how product management has evolved since 1931 and highlights the importance of clear role definition to prevent job frustration. The core focus of these activities is on thorough market research, continuous customer engagement, and strategic product development. Key Topics: * Market research as the foundation of product success * Evolution from problem space to solution identification Product positioning and vision development * Differences between product manager and product owner roles * Flexible vs. fixed roadmapping approaches * Continuous customer engagement throughout product lifecycle * Financial analysis and business case development * Impact of organizational size on PM responsibilities * Role of AI tools in modernizing product management * Importance of cross-functional collaboration Introduction In this episode, I’m interviewing Nishant Parikh, Director of Product Management at MasterCard. We explored the 19 essential activities that define successful software product management today. Drawing from his 20+ years of technology experience and extensive research, Nishant shared insights about how these activities vary across different organizational contexts – from startups to enterprises, B2B to B2C, and Agile to Waterfall environments. He emphasized the importance of role clarity and how the lack of it often leads to frustrated product managers leaving their positions. In this article, I’ll share the key takeaways from our discussion, including why market research should be your foundation, how customer engagement has evolved to become a continuous process, and the ways AI is reshaping traditional product management activities. Why study the 19 key activities of software product managers? Nishant’s motivation came from his personal experience navigating different product management roles over six years. Each position required vastly different responsibilities: In his first PM role, he focused on high-level solution development and feature writing His next position emphasized go-to-market activities At a small MasterCard acquisition company, he had to handle everything from product development to writing stories and epics Currently at MasterCard’s foundry team, his focus is on innovation and ideation This variety of experiences left him confused about the core responsibilities of a product manager. This confusion motivated him to pursue research to better understand: What a product manager’s key responsibilities should be How the discipline has evolved since its inception in 1931 Why many PMs leave their jobs due to lack of role clarity How to address the overlapping responsibilities between product managers, product leaders, and innovators He noted that while large organizations might have 100 defined activities for product managers, it’s impossible for one person to handle them all. This led him to research and identify 19 core activities specific to product management, with clear separation from product marketing, sales, and go-to-market functions. Consolidating insights from different bodies of knowledge Nishant identified three main bodies of knowledge in product management, each with distinct limitations: PDMA (Product Development and Management Association) ISPMA (International Software Product Managemen...

    38 min

  2. DEC 9

    518: The non-obvious way to gain organization support for your ideas – with Doug Hall

    Why product managers need to stop the stupid Watch on YouTube TLDR Innovation expert Doug Hall reveals why most organizations struggle with innovation despite recognizing its importance. Through his experience running Eureka! Ranch and Dexter Bourbon Distillery, Hall discovered that successful innovation requires a bottom-up transformation focusing first on empowering frontline employees to fix inefficiencies (“stop the stupid”), then enabling middle managers to improve systems, and finally allowing leadership to pursue bigger strategic innovations. This three-level approach has shown to increase innovation value by 28% versus the typical 50% decline seen in traditional top-down approaches. Key Topics: The Innovation Paradox: While 80% of CEOs say innovation is critical, only 20% believe their organizations are good at it Employee Innovation Barriers: 37% don’t see innovation as their job, 29% don’t know what to do about it Middle Management Challenge: Managers waste 3.5 hours daily dealing with mistakes and system flaws System vs. People Problems: 78% of issues come from flawed company systems, only 22% from employee mistakes The “Stop the Stupid” Approach: Start with empowering employees to fix immediate inefficiencies before pursuing larger innovations Three-Step Framework: 1) Teach innovation fundamentals, 2) Build confidence through early wins, 3) Develop systems thinking Measurable Impact: Organizations can achieve 4 improvement actions per employee per month Cultural Transformation: Focus on intrinsic motivation rather than external incentives The Innovation Paradox in Organizations: Why Companies Struggle to Innovate Doug shared that when you look at any survey of CEOs, more than 80% will say that innovation is crucial for their organization’s future success. However, when asked about their organization’s current innovation capabilities, the numbers flip dramatically – only about 20% believe their organizations are effectively innovating. Doug illustrated this disconnect with a story from his consulting work. His team had just presented breakthrough solutions to a problem that a CEO had previously deemed impossible. Rather than excitement, the CEO’s response was, “Huh, wow. I guess you did figure it out. Now what do I do? I guess I gotta do it.” The disappointment in the executive’s voice revealed a deeper truth about organizational resistance to innovation. This resistance manifests in various ways: Departments operating in silos resist changes that affect their established processes Middle managers hesitate to support innovations that might impact their performance metrics Frontline employees don’t see innovation as part of their role Existing systems and procedures inadvertently suppress new ideas Doug explained why simply having good ideas isn’t enough. Successful innovation requires addressing deeper organizational dynamics and systems that either enable or inhibit change. As we explored in our conversation, resolving this paradox requires a fundamental shift in how organizations approach innovation, starting not with grand strategies but with empowering employees to make small, meaningful improvements in their daily work. Breaking through this paradox requires recognizing that innovation isn’t just about generating new ideas – it’s about transforming how organizations think about and implement change at every level. This understanding forms the foundation for a more effective approach to organizational innovation. The Problem with Traditional Innovation Approaches: Why Good Ideas Often Fail Doug shared a startling insight from three separate studies that crystallizes why traditional innovation approaches often fall short.

    50 min

  3. DEC 2

    517: How to conduct an AI Design Sprint – with Mike Hyzy

    A custom ChatGPT model that helps accelerate product innovation Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode, I interview Mike Hyzy, Senior Principal Consultant at Daugherty Business Solutions. He explains how to conduct an AI-powered design sprint that transforms product concepts into clickable prototypes in just hours instead of weeks. Using a custom ChatGPT model combined with collaborative team workshops, product teams can rapidly move from initial customer insights to validated prototypes while incorporating strategic foresight and market analysis. Key Topics: Strategic foresight approach to product development, focusing on customer needs 2-5 years ahead Triple diamond decision framework for analyzing problems, customers, and markets Integration of team collaboration, AI assistance, and external validation Rapid wireframe and UI design generation using ChatGPT and DALL-E Creation of interactive prototypes using CodePen for immediate testing Custom AI model prompts and best practices for design sprint facilitation Early go-to-market strategy integration in the product development process Practical implementation of AI tools to accelerate product innovation Introduction Imagine taking a product concept from initial customer insight to clickable prototype in just a few hours. That’s exactly what I witnessed at PDMA’s recent Inspire Innovation Conference, where Mike Hyzy demonstrated a groundbreaking approach to AI Design Sprints that’s revolutionizing product development acceleration. By combining strategic foresight, a custom ChatGPT model, and collaborative workshop techniques, Mike led how six teams to achieve what typically takes weeks of work in just under three hours. As a product management professor and practitioner, I’ve seen many methodologies for speeding up innovation, but this approach was different – transforming ChatGPT into a virtual team member that accelerates every phase of the development process, from initial concept through digital product prototyping, while ensuring teams focus on solving tomorrow’s customer needs rather than just today’s problems. In this episode, Mike will take us through the steps he led product teams through during his AI Design Sprint workshop. The Critical Role of Strategic Foresight in Product Innovation At the beginning of the workshop, Mike explained the importance of strategic foresight. He emphasized a fundamental shift in how we should approach product development. Instead of focusing solely on today’s customer problems, product teams need to look 2-5 years into the future. This strategic foresight approach to product development isn’t just about making predictions – it’s about understanding how customer needs and market conditions will evolve over time. Mike shared a sobering statistic that highlights why this forward-thinking approach matters: 42% of companies cite “no market need” as their main reason for failure. This happens when teams solve today’s problems without considering how those needs might change by the time their product actually launches. As I’ve seen in my own product management experience, the traditional product development cycle can take months or even years. By the time we launch, the market may have moved on from the problem we originally set out to solve. The Triple Diamond Framework Components To address this challenge, Mike introduced the Triple Diamond Decision Framework, a structured approach that helps teams look ahead while making concrete decisions. Here’s how the framework breaks down: Jobs to be Done Diamond Explore future customer problems and needs Identify emerging pain points Converge on the most critical future needs Customer Analysis Diamond

    43 min

  4. NOV 25

    516: Strategic decision making in product management- with Atif Rafiq

    How product managers can move from ideas to action Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode, I speak with Atif Rafiq about how senior product leaders approach strategy development and execution. Atif brings valuable insights from a recent PDMA executive workshop where leaders discussed their real-world challenges with strategic decision making and innovation strategy. Key topics from our discussion: * Main challenges product leaders face when developing strategy * A practical framework for exploring product opportunities * How AI tools can help with strategic decision making * The importance of early-stage product work * Ways to improve alignment across organizations * Real-world example using a subscription service concept Introduction In this episode, I’m interviewing Atif Rafiq, who recently led an executive workshop at the PDMA conference, where senior leaders discussed challenges they face, including navigating ambiguity and making decisions with more clarity. In this episode, he shares some insights from that workshop and his experience in product leadership. Atif has spent 25 years working in both Silicon Valley and Fortune 500 companies, including leadership roles at Amazon, McDonald’s (as their first Chief Digital Officer), Volvo, and MGM Resorts. He has developed a systematic approach to problem-solving that forms the basis of his book, Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown. Key Challenges in Strategic Product Leadership During our discussion, Atif identifies three main challenges that senior leaders face when developing and implementing product strategy: 1. Alignment Challenges Organizations often struggle to get everyone moving in the same direction: Challenge Area Impact Common Problem Problem Understanding Teams interpret issues differently Resources going to wrong priorities Stakeholder Views Departments focus on different goals Competing objectives and metrics Customer Focus Too much focus on one perspective Missing business or operational needs 2. Input and Collaboration Issues Atif explains that product leaders often struggle to gather useful input and work effectively across teams. Common problems include: * Meetings that don’t collect all needed information * Difficulty managing different department viewpoints * Challenges combining input from multiple sources * Time pressures that cut short important discussions 3. Experimentation Challenges While many organizations value testing ideas, Atif notes several common issues: * Starting experiments before understanding the problem * Running tests without clear goals * Weak links between test results and business strategy * Racing through testing without proper planning Purposeful Exploration: A Better Approach In our discussion, Atif introduces “purposeful exploration” – a structured way to investigate and test product opportunities. This method helps organizations find balance between rushing into solutions and getting stuck in endless discussions. Key Elements of Purposeful Exploration Element Purpose Activities Problem Definition Get clear about the challenge Talk to stakeholders, analyze data, study market Question List Identify what we need to learn Team workshops, AI-assisted research Testing Strategy Check our assumptions Small pilots, focused tests, data gathering Making Sense of Results Draw useful conclusions Analysis, recommendations,

    35 min

  5. NOV 18

    515: Case studies of organizational growth through successful product launches – with James Whitman

    A framework for product launch success Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I interview James Whitman, author of LAUNCH Code and founder of Growth Guidepost. James shares insights from his research studying companies that consistently launch successful products. His LAUNCH Code framework offers a practical approach to product launch management that any organization can implement. Key Topics Covered: * The LAUNCH Code: six essential components of successful product launches * How AI is changing product launches and team dynamics * Practical strategies for cross-team collaboration * The Tranche Model for reducing launch risks * Building a culture that supports successful launches Understanding the Launch Code Framework James explains that Launch Code emerged from studying public companies that grew successfully through their product portfolios. These organizations share common practices that form the foundation of the LAUNCH framework: Component Description Listen to clients Gather and analyze customer feedback systematically Assess the opportunity Evaluate market potential and strategic fit objectively Unify the team Build alignment across departments Navigate the launch Execute go-to-market activities strategically Control the risks Manage and reduce potential issues Hone the process Improve launch practices continuously Current Challenges in Product Launches The AI Impact Organizations are adapting to rapid changes in how AI affects product launches. James shares that many teams are now working with their second or third generation of AI tools, particularly in sales and marketing. This raises important questions about balancing human and machine roles in the launch process and keeping employees engaged when AI takes over some of their work. Financial Landscape Changes A significant shift has occurred in venture funding, with more money moving toward AI investments. James describes working with one organization that had five different sales leaders in 18 months due to these pressures. This example revealed a deeper structural issue: The company needed to move up-market from a commoditized position to remain competitive. Making Better Launch Decisions James points out common decision-making problems in product launches. He describes what he calls the “Your PowerPoint is better than mine, but you’re wrong” syndrome – where strong presentation skills can override better strategic choices. Instead, organizations need to: * Focus on finding the best solution rather than winning arguments * Challenge assumptions constructively * Build collective ownership of decisions * Create space for different perspectives Building Cross-Functional Success A key insight from our conversation is how product launches require coordination across departments. James shares an example where changing product strategy meant completely rethinking the sales approach. The company needed salespeople who could sell complex solutions instead of commoditized products, showing how product decisions affect the entire organization. Creating Common Language James emphasizes the importance of vocabulary in cross-team work. For example, he notes that “discovery” means different things to sales and product teams: * Sales discovery: Understanding customer needs during the sales process * Product discovery: Researching market problems and solutions * Market discovery: Understanding broader market trends and opportunities Using clear,

    34 min

  6. NOV 11

    514: What product managers who are consistently beating competitors know – with Jay Nakagawa

    Elevating product strategy through advanced competitive intelligence Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I interview Jay Nakagawa, Director of Competitive Intelligence at Dell Technologies and a 25-year product management veteran. Our discussion reveals proven methods for understanding competitors and developing effective product strategies. Jay shares practical tools and frameworks product managers can use to gather competitive intelligence ethically and systematically. One compelling insight is that looking at competitors through our own lens often leads to misunderstandings – we need frameworks and methods to see the market from their perspective. Understanding Competitive Intelligence in Product Management The Evolution of Competitive Intelligence Jay has an interesting background that shapes his perspective on competitive intelligence. After spending over 20 years as a product manager, he found himself increasingly drawn to analyzing competition and developing strategies to outperform rivals. When Dell acquired EMC, Jay had the opportunity to transform this skill into a new career direction, leading competitive intelligence efforts. His experience reveals an important shift in how companies approach competitive analysis. While understanding customer needs remains essential, gaining deep competitive insights has become equally valuable for product success. The Problem with Traditional Analysis Many product managers rely on SWOT analysis for competitive insights. However, Jay explains that in his field, they jokingly call SWOT a “Silly Waste of Time” because it reveals little about competition. Instead of providing deep insights into competitor strategies and capabilities, SWOT tends to focus on internal factors and broad market opportunities. Core Functions of Modern Competitive Intelligence Jay learned about competitive intelligence from the Academy of Competitive Intelligence, which teaches product managers not only frameworks but also how to use them practically. Based on Jay’s experience at Dell Technologies, effective competitive intelligence includes: Function Description Business Impact Competition Analysis Understanding competitor products and strategies Improved product differentiation Strategic Evaluation Assessment of corporate and product strategies Better strategic planning Market Motion Analysis Understanding go-to-market approaches Enhanced market positioning Sales Support Enabling sales teams with competitive insights Increased win rates Product Direction Informing product management decisions More effective roadmap planning Essential Frameworks for Competitive Analysis Porter’s Five Forces in Practice Jay shares an example of how to apply Porter’s Five Forces using the large aircraft manufacturing industry: * Threat of New Entry * High capital requirements * Strict government regulations * Example: China’s emerging presence in aircraft manufacturing * Supplier Power * Impact of supply chain disruptions * Limited supplier options * Complex component requirements * Buyer Power * Airlines as major customers * Long-term purchase commitments * High switching costs Understanding Competitor Perspective Jay shares a metaphor about competitor analysis: Picture a kitten looking in a mirror and seeing a lion’s reflection. While we see the kitten, we need to understand that the competitor sees themselves as a lion. This perspective helps explain why competitors’ actions that seem ...

    32 min

  7. NOV 4

    513: What product leaders need to know about making new product development work – with Jack Hsieh

    Tips for managing global innovation projects Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I speak with Jack Hsieh about successful product development strategies. Jack brings 20 years of experience managing innovation projects at companies like Sony Ericsson and Logitech. He shares practical insights from the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) framework and explains how product managers can use these principles to improve their product development process. Through real examples from his work in consumer electronics and aerospace industries, Jack shows how PDMA’s body of knowledge helps create successful products while avoiding common pitfalls in portfolio management. Key topics discussed: * Innovation requires both strategy and execution * Market research remains fundamental * Process choice should match organization culture * Portfolio decisions need global perspective * Technical expertise matters in leadership Introduction While recording this episode at the PDMA Inspire Innovation Conference, I had the opportunity to talk with Jack Hsieh about product development evolution. PDMA has been supporting product professionals since 1976, making it the oldest organization dedicated to product management. Jack explains how PDMA’s comprehensive knowledge base helps companies innovate effectively across different industries and cultures. Understanding New Product Development Jack breaks down new product development (NPD) into clear components that every product manager should understand: * Turning ideas into products and services that customers will buy * Finding market opportunities that create value for organizations * Making existing products better through strategic improvements * Creating new value for established markets The PDMA Body of Knowledge Framework 1. Strategic Alignment Jack describes how product development needs alignment at multiple levels: Strategy Level What It Means Why It Matters Corporate Strategy Company’s overall direction Guides all product decisions Business Unit Strategy Market-specific plans Focuses resources effectively Innovation Strategy Product development priorities Directs innovation efforts Capability Strategy Resource planning Ensures successful execution 2. Portfolio Management During our conversation, Jack shares valuable insights from managing product portfolios at Sony Ericsson. He explains how the company handled three distinct product lines: * Smartphones * High-end feature phones * Low-end feature phones This experience taught him important lessons about resource allocation. For example, his business unit needed to coordinate holidays across three regions: Sweden, Taiwan, and Japan. The overlapping work schedule only provided 190 days per year for full team collaboration, making resource planning especially important. Jack uses Boeing and Airbus as examples to illustrate key portfolio management principles: Portfolio Decision Impact Lesson Learned Boeing’s 737 platform extension Technical challenges with aging platform Need for balanced technical and business leadership Resource allocation across product lines Product cannibalization between categories Importance of global portfolio optimization Technical vs. business leadership Impact on long-term product decisions Value of technical expertise in leadership 3. Process Management

    38 min

  8. OCT 28

    512: Improve your product creativity by finding the right partner – with Leah and Phillip Abraham

    Product innovation lessons from social media content creation Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I’m interviewing Leah and Philip Abraham, a creative duo with expertise in songwriting, acting, music production, and filmmaking. Their diverse background offers valuable lessons for product managers looking to improve their innovative thinking techniques. Throughout our conversation, we explore insights from their creative process that can be applied to product innovation and management. * Innovation is a learnable process, not just an innate talent * Complementary skills in teams can lead to more holistic product innovation * Balancing intuition with data-driven decision-making enhances product development * Rapid prototyping and iterative development accelerate learning and innovation * Embracing a “no bad ideas” culture fosters creativity in product teams * Learning from failures and maintaining enthusiasm through setbacks is crucial for long-term success * Continuous learning and adaptation of innovation processes are essential in product management This episode explores insights from creative professionals that can be applied to enhance innovation in product management, offering practical strategies for product managers to foster creativity, leverage rapid feedback cycles, and overcome challenges in the innovation process. Dismantling Misconceptions About Innovation We start by addressing common misconceptions about innovation, particularly the belief that creativity is an innate talent rather than a skill that can be developed. This idea is especially important for product managers and leaders responsible for driving innovation within their organizations. Leah and Philip share their experiences, showing that innovation is indeed a process that can be learned and improved over time. Complementary Creativity in Partnerships Leah and Phillip have experience in acting and film production and are now most famous for cinematic shorts on social media. They explain that they enjoy creative collaboration in many areas, including filmmaking, photography, music, and art. Leah and Phillip share that their creativity is complementary and they bring out creativity in each other. Phillip has a technical background while Leah focuses on character arcs. Innovation in the Creative Process When making a skit, Leah and Phillip often start with a sketch of the story and improv to fill in the details. They’re often inspired to make a skit based off something that happens in their lives. For example, a recent video called “When they cancel plans but you’re both introverts,” was inspired by Leah and Phillip’s introvertedness. Leah and Phillips use a  “no bad ideas” approach, which creates a safe space for sharing and building upon concepts. They give each other permission to throw out ideas without shame and then make those ideas better together. Benefits of Rapid Feedback Cycles Compared to producing a whole film, creating short-form content on social media provides more opportunity to receive rapid feedback and iterate. Analytics let Leah and Phillip see what aspects of their content viewers are engaging with most. Sometimes the parts of their content they almost didn’t include end up being the most popular with their audience. Leah and Phillip share that feedback from viewers has been affirming and eye-opening, and the most fulfilling part of their creative process is figuring out what viewers like about their content and building an intuition for creating engaging content. The Role of Intuition in Creativity and Innovation Leah and Phillip explain that they’re learning about to balance intuition with data-driven decision making. I think of intuition as my experience taking shape that my br...

    46 min
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About

Welcome to Product Mastery Now, where you learn the 7 knowledge areas for product mastery. We teach the product management practices that elevate your influence and create products your customers love as you move toward product mastery. To learn about all seven areas and assess your strengths in product mastery, go to my website -- https://productmasterynow.com -- and click the Podcast button at the top of the page. Hosted by Chad McAllister, product management professor and practitioner.

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