A tip of the iceberg presentation for an interactive session to stimulate conversation about how product excellence is defined, how to create a culture for product excellence, how to work cross-functionally and collaborate to achieve product excellence, where to go to get more.

1. How to Create a Culture
for Product Excellence
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
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cfsolomon@gmail.com

2. Cindy F. Solomon
 Founder & Host, Global Product Management Talk, a top 10 podcast on the
blogtalkradio network reaching 20,000 listeners weekly, available on iTunes
 Created ProdMgmtTalk Android mobile app
 Startup Product Summit in San Francisco
 monthly Startup Product Talk meetups and digital events for product
professionals.
 contributing writer for the SVPMA and forthcoming ProdBOK
 Product Management evangelist, Product Manager coach
 15 years of web development, services, and software product marketing and
management at Apple, Vadem, NetObjects and start-ups in Silicon Valley.
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

3. @STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

4. Cindy F. Solomon
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

5. Cindy F. Solomon
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

6. Cindy F. Solomon
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

7. @STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

8. Questions
• Who’s here?
• What do YOU want?
• What does it take to create a product
centric focus in your organization?
• How do you raise visibility, respect
and product leadership for increasing
product success?
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

9. How Do You Define Product
Excellence?
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

10. "Above all else, align with
customers. Win when they win.
Win only when they win.“
—Jeff Bezos, 2012
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

11. What Makes A Product Great
Depends…
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12. • On where it is in the Product Lifecycle
• On who you’re asking
• On where you’re looking
• On who’s using it, etc.
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

13. The Invisible Computer
Donald Norman mapped
lifecycle of products
why good products can fail…
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14. lifecycle of products
“In its early days, a technology cannot meet all the needs of its
customers.
Early adopters need the technology and they are willing to suffer
inconvenience to get it.
With time, the technology matures, offering better performance
and higher reliability.
When the technology exceeds the basic needs of most of its
customers, there is a major change in customer behavior.
Emotional reaction, pride of ownership, and pleasurability all can
become major selling points.”
The Invisible Computer Donald Norman
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15. @STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
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16. http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?618
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
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cfsolomon@gmail.com

17. Product Excellence is measured
differently in Each Stage
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18. Stage 1
Pure function is all that
matters: If the one thing it
does is the only option
available, people will be
happy with it.
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

19. Stage 2 Feature Wars
The number of features matters because
frequently the buyer doesn't understand
what each feature actually means.
Later in this phase, specific features do
make a difference as people are looking
for certain features to make their
purchase decisions.
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

20. Stage 3 Experience Wars
The experience and total cost of
ownership matters most. Products
with fewer -but better- features will
trump the more feature-laden
winners of Stage 2.
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

21. Stage 4 Commodities
The actual item becomes absorbed into a larger
product mix. Individual features of the
technology no longer matter, but become a
price/performance issue for the integrator.
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

22. Product Excellence
Depends on where you’re touching
Cindy F. Solomon
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

23. How Do You Drive Alignment
of Product perspective
across all functions?
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
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cfsolomon@gmail.com

24. Identify Where The Product Is in the
lifecycle
AIPMM Product Management Lifecycle Framework
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
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25. Become Expert At Speaking “Product” And
DELIVER RESULTS ACROSS ALL PHASES
AIPMM Product Management Lifecycle Framework
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

26. Ask Questions, Listen &
Learn Their Language
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

27. • What are their concerns, issues, focus?
• What motivates them?
• How do they define and measure product
success?
• What do they need to guarantee success of the
product?
• What can you provide them that forwards their
success?
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com

28. Translate the RoadMap For
Various Audiences
Cindy F. Solomon
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
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cfsolomon@gmail.com

29. Gain Respect of Developers
LISTEN: http://bit.ly/T2hEOy
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
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30. Understand What Sales Needs
LISTEN: http://bit.ly/RDnbtF
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
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31. @STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
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32. Cindy F. Solomon
510-499-6955
cfsolomon@gmail.com
LinkedIn! www.linkedin.com/in/cfsolomon
Twitter and skype @cindyfsolomon
Join the Startup Product movement for product excellence!
@startupproduct #startupproduct
http://startupproduct.com
http://www.meetup.com/StartupProductTalks/
http://www.meetup.com/StartupProduct/
Founder, Global Product Management Talk
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/prodmgmttalk
Broadcast discussion of vital issues affecting professionals passionate about
products, business process, product management, startups, marketing, innovation
and excellence.
@prodmgmttalk #prodmgmttalk
Be showcased on the show! http://bit.ly/f4xAIW
@STARTUPPRODUCT © Cindy F. Solomon
# STARTUPPRODUCT
cfsolomon@gmail.com