Blockchain is redefining the nature of not just currencies, but the way we organize and consume tech. Few active professionals have an insight into the complexities of the field. However, managers today need a solid foundation on the nature of this disruptive technology if they want to succeed in the coming years. In this presentation, Salvador Yanez, from Snapchat, sheds a light on the key opportunities and challenges offered by blockchain and the cryptocurrencies.

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What is Product Management for
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8. Salvador Yanez
TONIGHT’S SPEAKER

9. Product Management for
Blockchain Products
Sal Yanez - Spring Labs
09/18/2018

10. About me
● Sr. Product Manager at Spring Labs.
● Previous product experience: Snapchat, Google X and Google.
● Experience banking and management consulting.

11. Focus of this presentation
● Brief overview of blockchain to provide background of complexity.
○ But is not intended as a crash course on blockchain.
● Instead, will focus on how to execute as a PM under the complexities of a
Blockchain product.
● Materials with more text than usual - trying to make it easier for you to revisit.

12. What is Blockchain? (brief overview)
A decentralized, public ledger technology that:
● Gathers transactions into blocks and records them in a public ledger.
● Cryptographically chains blocks in chronological order.
● Allows the resulting ledger to be accessed by different nodes.

13. What else is Blockchain?
● NOT cryptocurrency.
○ But involves cryptographic tools.
● Different variations.
○ Consensus, PoW, PoS, private and public, hashing power, tokens.
● Relies on participants.
○ Multiple nodes, enablers of network, ledger available to all nodes.

14. Examples of Blockchain complexities for Product:
● Token incentive systems and economics (Game theory, Byzantine tolerance).
● Consensus algorithms.
● Multiple blockchains working together.
● Privacy in a public environment.
● Smart contracts (potential money fallouts)
● On-chain, off-chain components, and oracles.

15. Difference vs “traditional” Product Management?
● Moving target with R&D still underway.
● Need to balance continuous improvements vs having a working product for
potential partners and investors.
● Blockchain inherent sophistications might work against you.
○ Hacking resistance.
○ Error handling.
○ Customer service.

16. Best PM practices for Blockchain
● Constant communication.
○ Assumptions might change constantly.
○ Business needs adapt to market conditions.
○ Dev <-> Research <-> Business <-> Legal <-> Mkt <-> Others
● Bit more than PMs with complex products.
○ At Google X, uncertainty about customer interaction.
○ In Blockchain, uncertainty of working model plus customer interaction with that model.

17. ● Establish the list of all known requirements.
○ Classify in terms of priority.
○ New requirements might emerge as you progress.
● Run current development candidates against list of requirements.
○ Find current best candidate that is feasible for development.
○ Document discussions and outcomes for ideas.
Best PM practices for Blockchain (cont.)

18. ● Develop current best potential candidate.
○ Dev allows you to find potential issues that were not identified before.
○ Document known weaknesses - collaborate with R&D for optimizing.
○ Know that model can be improved, but concentrate on building something tangible.
● Iterate constantly and smartly.
○ Use notes and balance development vs research.
○ Alignment with customer and business needs is top priority.
Best PM practices for Blockchain (cont.)

19. Thanks!

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