Project to Product: Yes, it’s that complicated
Before I get into the meaty stuff, let me clarify this article’s title. Moving from a project-based to a product-based work orientation is complicated, but it can be simplified, well understood, and well done nonetheless. You won’t learn all you need to know here, that’s why there are entire books and certification courses on this stuff, but you will gain a general understanding. And that’s a great place to start!
It’s impossible to talk about moving from project to product without talking about agile ways of working. So, you will encounter a mixing of the topics and language. I encourage you to look up anything I don’t define… and anything I do, for that matter. Reviewing materials like those found at www.scaledagileframework.com will help your understanding greatly.
What is a product?
Let’s start with the question on everyone’s mind. What is a product? Frankly, what a product is depends on the organization contemplating it. However, in general, a product is something that provides value for customers. The existence of a product or group of related products creates an ongoing value stream that must be managed. Value stream work is built into the product management and agile processes, and functions to deliver new value and insights on a regular basis.
