Dam Breaks

We completed a big successful product launch.  There was massive alignment across the organization to get this product out.  When you have that kind of alignment, it tends to push all other requests and ideas off the table for a while.  This is a great thing to make sure you keep the momentum and success of the big launch.  

However, the moment we finished the big product luanch, the rest of the ideas came rolling back in.  A lot of them.  The dam broke and everything and everyone tries to take vie for position to be top priority.  This includes small things and big things.  We have the capacity to do about 3 big projects, and we are seeing about 8 big projects trying to get top spot.  Me and the team are trying to manage through all this.  Set priorities, expectations, and lots and lots of milkruns.  Some of this is resource constraints.  Some of it is just mind-share constraints.   

Eventually we will manage ourselves to the next big product launch, get alignment, and build the next big dam.  I do always find this por

Nice problem to have

My last post was a while ago (30 days ago).  And just like that post suggested, we did have a problem.   However, this problem came in the form of a large client wanting to help make our launch a success by financially promoting the product to their advertisers.  Great win for our sales team.  The problem became how do we accomodate their timelines and the financial issues in "the system".  We all immediately went into the mode of working this.  Been 10 days now and the team has performed great and reacted well to this challenge.   The financial windfall from this deal definitely helped motivate.  Never underestimate the power of a number with a lot of zeros has to clear roadblocks on a team.  

Along this same line though, I wanted to comment about how individuals approach issues.  I like to watch how people interact when an issue is brought up.  Some people will take an issue to a meeting and present the issue that they found.  And that's it.  They leave it there.  That is so frustrating.  It is a momentum killer.   Everyone gets spun up if you just go in and drop a bomb.  The appropriate way to handle that is to present the way you are going to defuse the bomb right after you drop it.  You need to tell people, "here's problem X, I think we can solve it by either doing A or B.  I'm going to let you know how we are going to handle this by the next meeting."  Something like that preserves momentum.  It manages expectations.  Dropping a bomb does nothing but cause issues.  Don't be a bomb dropper.  Be a bomb diffuser.  

Yep, there is a problem!

Actually, there isn't a problem right now, but there will be sometime in the next 60 days. Times ticking away. We are in the middle of launch a major new product. One that requires coordination across all parts of the business. Many teams are involved. Sales and services need to be trained up. Major work to add new ways of billing and supporting this new product. Not to mention getting buy-in from internal and external stakeholders. Migrating existing customers. Not least, developing new features and scaling the system to handle new load.

We've worked hard to get momentum and buy-in. These are essential for a successful launch. We've done lots of planning to determine which areas are at risk and plan around even the long-tail use cases. We are really watching out for all the details.

However....

Something is going to happen. A problem will come up. One that derails our momentum, causes doubt in people, and tests our will. We, the business leaders should expect it. It's going to happen. There is no way it won't happen.

We'll need to pounce on it quickly and communicate often. Make people feel better. This is the key. It isn't about finding the problems before they happen. Sure, you need to do your best to do that. However, it takes too long to figure out every contingency, every detail. What you need to do is a reasonable amount of due diligence. Then, when the random problem you missed hits, you need to react with professionalism and use some of that good karma you've earned by working well with others. It isn't about the problem. It is how you react to the problem.

Oh yes, there will be problems. Yes there will. Here's to a fun start of 2012. Tick tock, tick tock.

Seagull Manager

Google Android isn't top of the game, yet...

My wife got ahold of a brand new Samsung Galaxy Nexus.  The latest and greatest Android phone.  Given the fact that both her and I were an iPhone family before, this was a big step for her to go from her iPhone 3g to the state of the art Android.  

Huge screen, fast speeds and the "new car smell" of Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.  I was looking forward to playing with this device and getting a feel for it.  For all the hype, and all the "newness" of it, I can't get it out of my head the disappointment of it.  It doesn't "just work".  

Want to get gmail and exhange mail on it?  There are two mail apps on the phone, and really find that to get it to work you need to download another, better, 3rd party mail app.  

Want to get music from the #1 music service (iTunes) onto your device?  The instructions in the Music app are vague at best.  I'm very technology inclined, but it took me 2 hours of trying to get music onto the device in an automated way so it will work going forward easily.  Playlists and all.  

Photos?  Haven't tried yet since music was so difficult.  

Anwyays, these are just quick examples.  This is not an in depth review.  But I was pretty stunned at how "rushed" the product feels.  Considering how many revisions Google has gone through with Android, I expected a little more polish and ease of use.  Yes, the beauty of the operating system is that I have a ton of choice and options.  I can add widgets, control my notifications well, and a bunch of flashy features.  But the things that should be easy, just aren't.  Yes, this is where Apple shines.  But I expected Google to be closer on this.  

The potential is there.  Can't wait until they begin to get it right.  For now, I'm going to stick with my iPhone.