Lean Product 
Management 
for 
ENTERPRISE 
The Art of 
Known Unknowns 
Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
ThoughtWorks 
Lead Consultant 
- Product and User Experience 
- Agile and Lean Methodologies 
- Design Thinking 
- Innovation Portfolios 
Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
1. Why innovate 
2. Product innovation process 
3. Repeatable management 
4. Enterprise view 
Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
DISRUPTIVE 
INNOVATION 
Why do enterprises need to 
innovate?
digital everyone is a 
BUSINESS 
BANKING 
MEDIA 
EDUCATION RETAIL 
HEALTH 
TRAVEL
Technology is 
- DISRUPTING - 
BUSINESS 
Customer 
Experience 
Technology 
Technology is advancing rapidly 
to provide more and more 
innovative consumer products 
Business 
Strategy 
Customers now expect more: 
rich, personalized, 
omnichannel experiences 
Businesses need to move faster 
to stay in the game: the rate of 
change is accelerating
LEAN 
PRODUCT 
Development 
How do we develop 
innovative products?
Responding to Uncertainty 
Waterfall 
Agile (Scrum) 
Lean 
“We know what 
customers want” 
“We know how 
to deliver it” 
? 
? ?
Development Approach 
Waterfall 
Agile (Scrum) 
Lean 
Anders Ramsey ~ Agile UX Meetup 2013 
BUILD 
RELEASE 
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
startups 
and 
innovation labs 
NORDSTROM 
WOOLWORTHS
Innovation Process 
Nordstrom Innovation Lab
Lean Product Development 
BUILD 
Goals, 
not features 
Lean 
mentality 
LEARN MEASURE 
DESIGN 
THINKING 
LEAN 
STARTUP 
AGILE 
UX + DEV 
Lean UX ~ Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden 
(aka LeanUX)
Design Thinking 
DESIGN PRINCIPLES 
HUMAN-CENTERED 
EMPATHY 
CONTEXTUAL ENQUIRY 
IDEATION 
PROTOTYPING 
CUSTOMER CO-DESIGN 
Change By Design ~ Tim Brown dschool.stanford.edu
Lean Startup 
CUSTOMER VALUE 
HYPOTHESIS DRIVEN 
VALIDATED LEARNING 
MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCT 
BUILD-MEASURE-LEARN 
FAIL FAST AND PIVOT 
The Lean Startup ~ Eric Reis
Agile UX + Dev 
SPRINTS/ITERATIONS 
USER STORIES 
CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAMS 
TIGHT COLLABORATION 
VISUAL INFORMATION RADIATORS 
ThoughtWorks
LEAN 
PRODUCT 
Management 
How can we manage 
repeatable innovation?
Know What You Dont Know 
TRUST 
HUMILITY 
COURAGE 
the process 
with your ideas 
to try, fail, learn
Product Ideas 
Insights & Input 
customers 
business 
technology Opportunity Backlog 
prioritize based on 
business goals 
Design Brief 
problem statement 
desired outcome 
DESIGN 
THINKING
MVP Design Workshop 
MVP Design 
storyboards and wireframes 
hypothesis and assumptions 
Design Brief 
problem statement 
desired outcome 
Collaborative 
Design 
customer / researcher 
design 
business 
technology
MVP Hypothesis 
Goals, 
not features 
LEAN 
STARTUP 
STATE ASSUMPTIONS 
OUTCOME FOCUSED 
CLEAR VISION 
MEASURABLE IMPACT 
We believe that 
[doing this / building this feature / creating this experience], 
For [these people/personas], 
Will achieve [this outcome], 
We will know this to be true when we see 
[this feedback / quantitative measure / qualitative insight ]. 
Lean 
mentality 
Lean UX ~ Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden
Research Sprints 
FIELD OBSERVATION 
BUILD EMPATHY 
LEARN PAIN POINTS 
VALIDATE ASSUMPTIONS 
Research Questions 
Story Backlog 
lean/agile design 
and development 
validate ideas 
1-2 sprints ahead 
and 
verify solutions 
1-2 sprints after 
MVP design 
storyboards and wireframes 
hypothesis and assumptions 
Goals, 
not features 
Lean 
mentality 
LEAN 
STARTUP
User Story Mapping 
AGILE 
UX + DEV 
USER JOURNEY 
THIN SLICE 
SHARED VISUAL ARTIFACT 
User Story Mapping ~ Jeff Patton (agileproductdesign.com)
Lean Product Management 
BUILD 
Goals, 
not features 
Lean 
mentality 
LEARN MEASURE 
DESIGN 
THINKING 
LEAN 
STARTUP 
AGILE 
UX + DEV 
Product 
Ideas 
MVP 
Workshop 
MVP 
Hypothesis 
Research 
Sprints 
Story 
Mapping
PODULAR 
Organism 
COMPANIES 
How do we manage an 
enterprise of lean teams?
Traditional Enterprises 
PLAN DESIGN BUILD TEST DELIVER 
WORK = REQUIREMENTS
Cross-Functional Pods 
WORK = GOALS
Coordination and Management 
PRACTICE COMMUNITIES/TRIBES 
CROSS-TEAM ROTATIONS 
CROSS-TEAM PAIRING 
VARIOUS STANDUPS 
LUNCH & LEARNS 
VISUAL INFORMATION RADIATORS 
SUPPORTING TOOLS 
The Connected Company ~ Dave Gray
LEAN 
PORTFOLIO 
Management 
How do we manage an 
enterprise of lean products?
Product Portfolio 
?
Recall: Goal Driven Teams 
MVP MVP 
MISSION 
Discover 
and Prioritize 
OPPORTUNITIES 
Design 
and Test 
Cross Functional 
Team
Recall: Principle of Mission 
In maneuver warfare, the mission is ... 
“Commander’s Intent.” 
... orders are incomplete without this 
information. 
... when intent is clear, Marines will be 
able to select the right course of action. 
This is particularly true when Marines 
have to deal with an emerging obstacle 
or opportunity. 
ALIGNMENT ON VISION 
NOT PRESCRITIVE 
EMPOWERED TEAMS 
RESPONSIVE SOLUTION 
The Principles of Product Development Flow ~ Donald Reinertsen
Goal Driven Business 
BUSINESS GOAL 
Discover 
and Prioritize 
Executive 
Team 
BET 
BET 
BET 
BET 
Business Portfolio 
Test and learn 
Respond to uncertainty 
Lean Enterprise ~ Jez Humble, Joanne Moleksy and Barry O’Reilley
Fund Outcomes (not Output) 
Business Portfolio 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENT BETS 
TESTABLE MVPS 
PIVOT OR DOUBLE DOWN 
INCREMENTAL INVESTMENT 
BALANCE ACROSS ‘HORIZONS’ 
Lean Enterprise ~ Jez Humble, Joanne Moleksy and Barry O’Reilley
Lean Portfolio Management 
BET 
(MISSION) 
BUSINESS GOAL 
OPPORTUNITIES 
MVP MVP 
CLEAR VISION AT THE TOP 
ALIGNMENT ON OUTCOMES 
DELIGATE DECISIONS DOWN 
EMPOWERED TEAMS 
LEARNING FEEDBACK LOOPS
Lean Portfolio Management 
customer 
marketing 
email 
campaign 
Grow the business 
traveller customer 
segment by 20% 
Streamline repeat 
travel bookings 
(more bookings per 
existing customer) 
Promote and funnel 
business travellers 
to our features 
(attract % new business) 
landing page 
experience 
social 
media 
BUSINESS GOAL 
BET (MISSION) 
OPPORTUNITIES 
MVP HYPOTHESIS 
Executive 
Team 
Product 
Delivery Teams 
DE-COUPLE BUSINESS STRATEGY, 
PRODUCT STRATEGY AND 
PRODUCT IMPLEMENTATION!
Minimum Viable Portfolio 
ITERATE. 
? 
A+ 
alpha beta 1 beta 2 launch 
? 
A+ 
? 
A+ 
? 
A+
The art of managing 
innovation...
MEASURE 
LEARN 
TRUST 
The only thing 
certain is 
uncertainty. 
COURAGE HUMILITY 
ADAPT 
Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
Books To Learn More 
Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
Questions.

Lean Product Management: The Art of Known Unknowns

  • 1.
    Lean Product Management for ENTERPRISE The Art of Known Unknowns Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
  • 2.
    ThoughtWorks Lead Consultant - Product and User Experience - Agile and Lean Methodologies - Design Thinking - Innovation Portfolios Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
  • 3.
    1. Why innovate 2. Product innovation process 3. Repeatable management 4. Enterprise view Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
  • 4.
    DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION Whydo enterprises need to innovate?
  • 5.
    digital everyone isa BUSINESS BANKING MEDIA EDUCATION RETAIL HEALTH TRAVEL
  • 6.
    Technology is -DISRUPTING - BUSINESS Customer Experience Technology Technology is advancing rapidly to provide more and more innovative consumer products Business Strategy Customers now expect more: rich, personalized, omnichannel experiences Businesses need to move faster to stay in the game: the rate of change is accelerating
  • 7.
    LEAN PRODUCT Development How do we develop innovative products?
  • 8.
    Responding to Uncertainty Waterfall Agile (Scrum) Lean “We know what customers want” “We know how to deliver it” ? ? ?
  • 9.
    Development Approach Waterfall Agile (Scrum) Lean Anders Ramsey ~ Agile UX Meetup 2013 BUILD RELEASE CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
  • 10.
    startups and innovationlabs NORDSTROM WOOLWORTHS
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Lean Product Development BUILD Goals, not features Lean mentality LEARN MEASURE DESIGN THINKING LEAN STARTUP AGILE UX + DEV Lean UX ~ Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden (aka LeanUX)
  • 13.
    Design Thinking DESIGNPRINCIPLES HUMAN-CENTERED EMPATHY CONTEXTUAL ENQUIRY IDEATION PROTOTYPING CUSTOMER CO-DESIGN Change By Design ~ Tim Brown dschool.stanford.edu
  • 14.
    Lean Startup CUSTOMERVALUE HYPOTHESIS DRIVEN VALIDATED LEARNING MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCT BUILD-MEASURE-LEARN FAIL FAST AND PIVOT The Lean Startup ~ Eric Reis
  • 15.
    Agile UX +Dev SPRINTS/ITERATIONS USER STORIES CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAMS TIGHT COLLABORATION VISUAL INFORMATION RADIATORS ThoughtWorks
  • 16.
    LEAN PRODUCT Management How can we manage repeatable innovation?
  • 17.
    Know What YouDont Know TRUST HUMILITY COURAGE the process with your ideas to try, fail, learn
  • 18.
    Product Ideas Insights& Input customers business technology Opportunity Backlog prioritize based on business goals Design Brief problem statement desired outcome DESIGN THINKING
  • 19.
    MVP Design Workshop MVP Design storyboards and wireframes hypothesis and assumptions Design Brief problem statement desired outcome Collaborative Design customer / researcher design business technology
  • 20.
    MVP Hypothesis Goals, not features LEAN STARTUP STATE ASSUMPTIONS OUTCOME FOCUSED CLEAR VISION MEASURABLE IMPACT We believe that [doing this / building this feature / creating this experience], For [these people/personas], Will achieve [this outcome], We will know this to be true when we see [this feedback / quantitative measure / qualitative insight ]. Lean mentality Lean UX ~ Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden
  • 21.
    Research Sprints FIELDOBSERVATION BUILD EMPATHY LEARN PAIN POINTS VALIDATE ASSUMPTIONS Research Questions Story Backlog lean/agile design and development validate ideas 1-2 sprints ahead and verify solutions 1-2 sprints after MVP design storyboards and wireframes hypothesis and assumptions Goals, not features Lean mentality LEAN STARTUP
  • 22.
    User Story Mapping AGILE UX + DEV USER JOURNEY THIN SLICE SHARED VISUAL ARTIFACT User Story Mapping ~ Jeff Patton (agileproductdesign.com)
  • 23.
    Lean Product Management BUILD Goals, not features Lean mentality LEARN MEASURE DESIGN THINKING LEAN STARTUP AGILE UX + DEV Product Ideas MVP Workshop MVP Hypothesis Research Sprints Story Mapping
  • 24.
    PODULAR Organism COMPANIES How do we manage an enterprise of lean teams?
  • 25.
    Traditional Enterprises PLANDESIGN BUILD TEST DELIVER WORK = REQUIREMENTS
  • 26.
  • 27.
    Coordination and Management PRACTICE COMMUNITIES/TRIBES CROSS-TEAM ROTATIONS CROSS-TEAM PAIRING VARIOUS STANDUPS LUNCH & LEARNS VISUAL INFORMATION RADIATORS SUPPORTING TOOLS The Connected Company ~ Dave Gray
  • 28.
    LEAN PORTFOLIO Management How do we manage an enterprise of lean products?
  • 29.
  • 30.
    Recall: Goal DrivenTeams MVP MVP MISSION Discover and Prioritize OPPORTUNITIES Design and Test Cross Functional Team
  • 31.
    Recall: Principle ofMission In maneuver warfare, the mission is ... “Commander’s Intent.” ... orders are incomplete without this information. ... when intent is clear, Marines will be able to select the right course of action. This is particularly true when Marines have to deal with an emerging obstacle or opportunity. ALIGNMENT ON VISION NOT PRESCRITIVE EMPOWERED TEAMS RESPONSIVE SOLUTION The Principles of Product Development Flow ~ Donald Reinertsen
  • 32.
    Goal Driven Business BUSINESS GOAL Discover and Prioritize Executive Team BET BET BET BET Business Portfolio Test and learn Respond to uncertainty Lean Enterprise ~ Jez Humble, Joanne Moleksy and Barry O’Reilley
  • 33.
    Fund Outcomes (notOutput) Business Portfolio PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENT BETS TESTABLE MVPS PIVOT OR DOUBLE DOWN INCREMENTAL INVESTMENT BALANCE ACROSS ‘HORIZONS’ Lean Enterprise ~ Jez Humble, Joanne Moleksy and Barry O’Reilley
  • 34.
    Lean Portfolio Management BET (MISSION) BUSINESS GOAL OPPORTUNITIES MVP MVP CLEAR VISION AT THE TOP ALIGNMENT ON OUTCOMES DELIGATE DECISIONS DOWN EMPOWERED TEAMS LEARNING FEEDBACK LOOPS
  • 35.
    Lean Portfolio Management customer marketing email campaign Grow the business traveller customer segment by 20% Streamline repeat travel bookings (more bookings per existing customer) Promote and funnel business travellers to our features (attract % new business) landing page experience social media BUSINESS GOAL BET (MISSION) OPPORTUNITIES MVP HYPOTHESIS Executive Team Product Delivery Teams DE-COUPLE BUSINESS STRATEGY, PRODUCT STRATEGY AND PRODUCT IMPLEMENTATION!
  • 36.
    Minimum Viable Portfolio ITERATE. ? A+ alpha beta 1 beta 2 launch ? A+ ? A+ ? A+
  • 37.
    The art ofmanaging innovation...
  • 38.
    MEASURE LEARN TRUST The only thing certain is uncertainty. COURAGE HUMILITY ADAPT Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
  • 39.
    Books To LearnMore Lean Strategy + Design @nataliehollier
  • 40.