This document summarizes the findings of a 2015 study on product team performance. It discusses the respondents to the survey, which were primarily people involved in product development from technology, services, and consumer products companies. It then outlines key findings on product team dynamics, including trends in development methodologies and job satisfaction levels. Specifically, it finds that agile adoption may be leveling off while satisfaction remains high. The document also identifies four factors that contribute to high performance: strategic decision making ability, frequent standup meetings, quick problem resolution, and involvement of user experience professionals.

1. Is agile adoption losing steam?

2. Today’s presenters
Mike Maheu
Vice President, Product Development
Greg Geracie
President
Host
Featured
Guest

3. About Go2Group
 Founded in 2002
 Leading industry experts in ALM (application lifecycle management)
 Global, experienced team
 Offices in US, India, Japan, China, Europe
 45 employees
 Operational in 70 countries
 49% CAGR
 1/3 of the Fortune 100
 GSA Listed

4. Go2Group services
 Worldwide leaders in ALM solutions since 2002
 Specialists in complex integrations and migrations
 Certified by Atlassian, HP, IBM, Perforce, Salesforce, Microsoft

5. Our customers

6. Actuation Consulting and Greg Geracie
President of Actuation Consulting, Adjunct Professor, and Author
of Two Books on Product Management

7.  The 2015 survey’s respondents
 P Product development methodologies, adoption, and profitability
 White paper key findings
 ? Feedback and Q&A
Today’s agenda

8. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.The study - 2015

9. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
The material contained in this presentation is protected under the
copyright laws of the United States. This material may not be reproduced
in any form or by any means without the express written permission of
Actuation Consulting. Any infringement of these copyrights or trademarks
will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The survey data in this presentation is available for use by qualified
educational institutions and may be licensed by all other parties. Please
contact us directly to learn more.
© 2015 Actuation Consulting. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer

10. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.The study’s contents - 2015
Product development methodologies
Findings from the 2015 study
About the respondents
What factors drive high performance?

11. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.Survey method
• Sponsors and promotional partners emailed a web-
based survey
• Anonymous (optional disclosure)
• Interested in hearing from the following roles:
– Business analyst
– Development manager
– Engineer
– Product manager
– Program manager
– Project manager
– Product owner
– User experience professionals, etc.

12. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Promotional partners:
Survey sponsors and partners
Sponsors:

13. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.Demographics
Who responded to the survey?

14. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.Demographics
92%
of respondents
play an active role
in creating or
enhancing
products or
services.
Percentages

15. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Q: Which of the following titles do you directly report to?
Demographics
60%
of respondents
report to a
company officer, a
VP or director.
Percentages

16. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Q: Which of the following best describes your
organization’s primary business focus?
Demographics
43%
work in the
technology
industry
24%
work in the
service industry
10%
work in
consumer
products

17. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Company size (annual revenue)
Demographics
33%
less than $50
million
40%
$50 million to $2
billion
27%
over $2 billion

18. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.Product team dynamics
What did survey respondents tell us about
their product teams?

19. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Product team dynamics
Q: Which of the following best describes the
effectiveness of your product team?
This trend appears highly correlated to positive
changes in the economy and staffing levels.
Four Year Retrospective:
2012
13%
2013
21%
2014
33%
2015
39%
Consistent Value Delivery

20. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Q: Which of the following methodologies best
describes the way your organization develops
products?
Development methodologies

21. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Development methodologies
Historical methodology adoption rates

22. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Q: Which methodology do you associate with
increasing the profitability of your product?
Development Methodologies
While 26% of product teams say they use Agile
36% view Agile as the best way to increase product profitability.

23. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.Product team performance - 2015
63%
of product team
members are
currently satisfied or
extremely satisfied
with their jobs.
Blank Space.
Job satisfaction levels
Percentages

24. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.Product team performance - 2015
54% state turnover has negatively impacted their
ability to execute.
Blank Space.
Turnovers impact

25. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Past year’s findings
2014
• Product team culture
• Acknowledging the critical
relationship between product
and project management
• Optimizing the product team’s
relationship with the sales
organization
• Understanding the sales cycle
• Enhancing the relationship
with marketing
2013
• The importance of an aligned
strategy
• Business unit leader
engagement
• Product manager role
definition
• The importance of product
launch
• Onboarding product team
members

26. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
26
Key findings for 2015

27. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
Four in focus
Standup frequency
Quick problem recovery
Incorporating user experience
What factors contribute to high performance?
Strategic decision-making aptitude

28. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.# 1 - Strategic decision-making
Our regression analysis shows that organizations with an
aptitude for making strategic decisions perform better.
Q: Does your organization do an effective job at
decision-making in order for the product team to
successfully develop products?
Strategic decisions
Product requirement
decisions
Technical decisions
Go-to-market decisions
We strugglein all these
areas
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
37% 28%45% 50% 30%
We are good at making and sticking with:

29. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.# 2 - Standup frequency matters
The data shows that increased standup frequency
correlates with improved performance.
Blank Space.
Value of standups

30. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.# 3 - Quick problem recovery
The more nimble
organizations are at
overcoming unforeseen
issues the more
effectively they
perform.
Q: How does your company’s culture react when
unforeseen issues are encountered in the product
development process?
However, 64% of
organizations struggle
with this challenge.

31. © 2012-2015 Actuation Consulting, LLC
Propel forward.
#4 - User experience
The data shows that active UX involvement in the product
development process leads to better outcomes.
Blank Space.
UX collaboration with product management
Percentages

32. The Study of Product Team Performance 2015
Download your free copy of the study:
www.ActuationConsulting.com

33. Any questions? Contact us.
Greg Geracie
President
Actuation Consulting
Greg@ActuationConsulting.com
@GregGeracie 312. 775. 2373
www.ActuationConsultingcomin/GregGeracie