Arguing Agile: Product Management, Business Leadership, & Org Design

As a product manager, have you ever inherited a messy backlog?  In this episode, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel break down 6 useful tactics you can use to tackle this common challenge.  Listen as we discuss the challenges of inheriting a product backlog and learn practical strategies for: Aligning with company objectives Effective stakeholder communica...

As product managers and agile practitioners, we often struggle to communicate our value to management in terms they understand. In this episode, you'll learn how to better translate business value to management, make a case for additional resources, and overcome resistance to change in your organization. Join Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel as we d...

We don't always do reaction videos, but when we do, we do them right! On this episode, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel react to a candid interview with the former Google CEO as he shares provocative insights on the future of AI, Silicon Valley's approach to innovation, and potential disruption to big tech companies. Join us as we analyze his (...

As a product leader or agile practitioner, do you struggle to communicate value to your finance team? In this episode of the Arguing Agile Podcast, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel muse on 13 common misconceptions CFOs face and how they impact product and organizational success.  Listen as we discuss: Demonstrating the ROI of business agility Balancing s...

Are you struggling with strategic planning in your organization? In this episode, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando walk through the common mistakes companies make developing and executing strategies. Listen as we discuss: The goal mirage of confusing aspirations for action Overemphasis on planning and forecasting The pitfalls of being a "feature fac...

Are outdated management practices and hierarchical structures holding your organization back? In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando take the untraveled path of analyzing why the need for control is so pervasive in corporate environments.  Listen to learn: How the illusion of control manifests How risk aversion sti...

In this episode, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel put the controversial topic of centralized corporate structures (aka. the Ivory Tower) on trial. Listen or watch as the hosts explore the pros and cons, including: The pitfalls of consolidating specialized roles into "ivory towers" How centralization affects team autonomy and decision-making How...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile Podcast, school is in session as Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel helps Product Manager Brian Orlando understand the ways of successfully transitioning a team from Scrum (or whatever) to Kanban!  We cover key Kanban concepts, like:  Adapting and Reducing events and meetings Understanding flow and pull systems Setting effective WIP limits Creating comm...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando open a door into the world of W. Edwards Deming by exploring his 14 principles for management from his seminal book "Out of the Crisis".  Whether you're in software development or manufacturing; whether you're a leader looking to transform your organization...

Do You Really Need a UX Researcher on Your Product Team?  There are no easy answers on this podcast as we react to a provocative LinkedIn post.  On this episode, Product Manager Brian and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om debate the merits and challenges of having dedicated UX researchers on product teams.  Listen as we explore: Are UX researchers a must-have or a luxury?  Can product managers...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Product Manager Nisha Patel joins hosts Om Patel and Brian Orlando to discuss how to develop effective product strategies. They break down real-world examples from companies like Dropbox, Airbnb, Stripe, and more to illustrate the key components of a strong strategy. Learn practical tips for defining the right problem to solve, creating a guiding polic...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Enterprise Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando are joined by Alex Polyakov, CEO of Project Simple (https://projectsimple.ai) for an immersive discussion of the complex topic of technical debt.  They discuss what technical debt really means, when it can be beneficial vs harmful, and strategies for prioritizing and paying down tech d...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Enterprise Agile Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando dive into the often misunderstood concept of platform teams. They discuss: - The definition and purpose of a platform team - How platform teams differ from stream-aligned feature teams - Key behaviors of effective platform teams - Common anti-patterns and mistakes made with platform team...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando debate the pros and cons of using shared services teams versus fully dedicated, cross-functional teams (otherwise known in Marty Cagan circles as "durable teams"). They explore common arguments made for shared services models, such as resource utilization, cost effic...

In this episode Enterprise Agile Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando dive into the concept of cognitive load and how it impacts agile software development teams.  Drawing from the 1988 paper "Cognitive Load During Problem Solving" by John Sweller, they discuss: What is cognitive load and how does it manifest on teams? Why the mental effort required for day-to-day problem sol...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast we welcome Lenar Mukhamadiev! Lenar shares his fascinating career path from starting as a QA intern at age 20 to founding his own software development company, iDelsoft: https://idelsoft.com Lenar discusses the challenges of being an entrepreneur, the importance of embracing failure as learning opportunities, his thoughts on the future of QA, and advice...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando explore the trend of product management specializations. We discuss the various types of specializations emerging, the factors driving this trend, and the pros and cons for both product managers and organizations. We also share practical advice on how to navigate your product...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Software Development Expert Ed Martin joins Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando as they review Marty Cagan's latest book "Transformed."  Listen as we discuss takeaways, critique, and commentary, including: The evolving roles of product leaders and agile coaches  Product discovery and the tech lead...

In this episode of Arguing Agile, Brian and Om dive into the seedy reality of the "shadow backlog." Defined as all the hidden work and side projects that don't make it into the "official" backlog, shadow backlog items end up consuming significant time and effort from development teams. From personal passion projects to break fixes to exploratory work, we discuss the many f...

The first value expressed in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development is "Individuals and interactions over processes and tools." In this episode of Arguing Agile we are joined by Yadi Caro, host of the Hardcore Soft Skills Podcast for an exploration of practical and actionable ways to put people over processes and tools.  Listen as we discuss how to build empathy, facilitate effecti...

...and other tips to Avoid Embarrassment & Improve Your Presentation Skills In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel share hilarious product demo disaster stories and provide actionable tips to help you avoid embarrassing mishaps during your next demo. Listen to this podcast if you'd like to learn how to bet...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel explore the importance of asking for help across various roles, including developers, testers, UI/UX designers, managers and executives. The podcast explores the common reasons people avoid seeking help, such as ego, fear of appearing weak or incompetent, and cultural factors....

Many companies offer both products and services to their customers, but struggle with how to effectively manage and organize these two sides of the business. In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel dive deep into the challenges and opportunities that come with delivering products and services together. Join the host...

In this episode of the Arguing Agile podcast, Brian and Om discuss the risks of bypassing user validation and prototyping in favor of quickly building and releasing features. They explore the potential pitfalls, including lack of alignment with user needs, rework, low feature adoption, and damage to company reputation. Learn why investing time upfront in user research, wireframes and staged rollou...

We've titled this podcast: "Escaping the Feature Factory," or Unlearn Bad Habits and Advance Your Career! If you're a developer, product manager, or in another tech role and feel stuck in the "feature factory" mindset, this podcast episode is for you. We discuss the key skills and mindset shifts needed to break out of the feature factory and advance your career in a m...