Each week I scour articles, wading through the dogs, and bringing you the best insights to help product managers, developers, and innovators be heroes.

 

The unexpected benefit of celebrating failure and killing projects. Effective new product development practices require killing projects that are not promising. It is important but challenging as product teams get personally invested in their projects. Who wants to really kill one?  Google X, the Moonshot division of Google, awards teams for killing projects by providing financial bonuses. They are rewarding behaviors that are necessary for innovation. Checkout the article and related TED talk at http://www.fastcoexist.com/3058866/how-googles-moonshot-x-division-helps-its-employees-embrace-failure

7 lessons for creating a innovative environment from the Harvard Innovation Lab. (1) Be a sponge. (2) Narrow is a good place to start. (3) Competition is good. (4) Ideas are great – but execution is what matters. (5) Spend time with people who are different from you. (6)Getting better is messy. (7) Innovation isn’t lightning – it’s simmering. Read about each in this Fast Company article http://www.fastcompany.com/3058731/7-essential-lessons-from-the-harvard-innovation-lab

The 22 highest-rated requirements management tools and how to pick one. Requirements management tools help keep stakeholders informed and product teams working on the right things as changes are encountered and addressed. Learn how to select one for the needs of your organization at http://www.cio.com/article/3053082/project-management/how-to-pick-the-best-requirements-management-tool.html

Branding example – the amazing Domino’s pizza box. Are you missing opportunities to reinforce your brand throughout the entire customer experience? Learn how Domino’s makes their brand stand out: http://www.wired.com/2016/04/dominos-new-pizza-delivery-boxes-weirdly-clever/

What is product management about? One of the important roles of product management is connecting functions across the organization. It is known as a cross-functional role and a unique one at that. Most organizations have no other role that is as well-connected. Learn about this aspect of product management and others in this post at http://www.mindtheproduct.com/2016/04/product-management-fundamentals/

Having difficulty promoting product management at your company – here’s five tips. (1) Establish a clear vision. (2) Secure management buy-in. (3) Involve the people whose jobs change. (4) Get the right people on board. (5) Sustain the change. Read about each at http://www.romanpichler.com/blog/five-tips-for-introducing-product-management-to-your-company/