Inheriting a Product
Or, How to Live with Other People’s Mistakes
Ideally we would start from square one.
Why do we get hired?
Because something broke.
And you’re here to fix it.
When you are new…• The company is … • Over budget• Out of time• Disorganized• And still growing…
• You…• Don’t know anything about the product• Don't know who your team is• Don’t really know what’s broken
What’s your job here?
Our job is mainly politics
Meet with *everybody*
Conversations should be open ended, and probably awkward. Listen.
What Is, versus What Should Be
• What do you do? • What you want to do?
• What are we as a group doing? • How are we doing it?
• What should we be doing? • How can we do it?
• What do you think I do? • What should I do?
• What meetings should I go to?• Who should I meet with next?
They already know what to fix…
They just can’t fix it themselves. Why?
Is the problem the product?
This is your job.
(But don’t tell anyone)
C. Y. A.• A.K.A. actually get some work done now, please.
Fight your first fire
Then change things
Summary• Listen• Take Notes• Don’t act• Make a plan• Little Wins• Ignore the product; focus on the team.