Tech Development Processes
Allison J. Taylor, Chris Naunheimer · Productivity Press eBooks · 2025
Jose had worked months to prepare for a stage gate meeting, at which senior management across functions would allow or deny his product to make the next step in the build phase. At the meeting, however, different teams asked unrelated questions. It became obvious that few were following the stage gate process that defines what to look for in product readiness at which stage. In fact, based on the feedback and questions, a different, informal process was still underway. Veterans in the company that Jose had built relationships with told him frankly – this is how things had always been done at the company. Rather than continue to work weekends to meet stage gate meetings, Jose instead worked individually with stakeholders to gain approvals. He was then able to purchase inventory, appear on the price list, and move forward with other steps traditionally kicked off in stage gates. Recognizing which process, or lack thereof, was truly guiding product decisions, Jose was astute enough to successfully realize his product roadmap. Though seemingly isolated between the North Atlantic and Greenland Sea, Iceland in fact delivers many wonders, including the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. A product manager&s;s journey through processes is sometimes isolating, despite its interaction with dozens of people. It requires drive and determination to move everyone past difficult setbacks and finally reach an intended positive outcome. For software PMs, this often involves navigating technical development processes such as waterfall and agile. 1 A waterfall cascades down into a pool viewed from inside a cave, creating a natural curtain framed by mossy rock walls. The landscape stretches toward the horizon under a vibrant sky with clouds and the glow of a setting sun. https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" content-type="black-white" xlink:href=" https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003582892/536482e2-17b9-4d44-b560-15d89a3ff023/content/fig0_8_B.jpg "/>