Launching a product with limited resources is challenging. Can you navigate unexpected setbacks effectively?

Setbacks are part of the journey, we need to be flexible, adapt quickly by adjusting strategy through reallocating resources or revising timelines (where possible). Be transparent - communicate setbacks to stakeholders, honesty builds trust, seek their understanding and support during challenging times. Prioritize and focus - identify the critical aspects of product launch. Embrace lean- start small, iterate and validate assumptions build MVP that addresses core user needs, gradually enhance based on feedback. Mitigate Risks through Preparation- Identify potential technical, market, and operational risks early. Develop contingency plans for each scenario. Being prepared helps you navigate setbacks effectively.

Perfection and agility are enemies. It defeats the purpose of an iterative development process. Don't ever let perfection get in the way of completion. It'd be great if you could carefully break down your objectives into stages and size your cycles to accommodate the individual features and EPICs. You want to keep the lines of communication open for feedback and make changes often to show your understanding of the customer needs, as well as your ability to pivot when needed to meet your customers' new and evolving needs.

Communication and a well-documented process are both essential to feature prioritization. Frameworks such as RICE or WSJF include common criteria that is based on evidence and present a fact-based way to prioritize the most important blocks of work to execute first. It is important to ensure the integrity of the information that is fed into the algorithm. If bad data is used, it could lower teams' effectiveness by them not working on the most important items. The key here is honest and open communication. Teams should understand that Product Development teams do not determine which items are to be worked on first. They merely facilitate the conversation and execute on agreed deliverables. Alignment is key.

One thing I found helpful is communicate early and often. The “no surprises” approach keeps stakeholders engaged and comfortable when things change unexpectedly

Use early onboarding stages to specify your touchpoints and audience. These should account for items such as: - What are our planned touchpoints? - How do we engage when an emergency occurs? - Who should be in attendance? - When do we engage the "everyday working team" vs. the "executive sponsors"? A key to a successful Product Development unit is removing the element of surprise. Get comfortable knowing things will not always go as planned, but create the right ways to reflect and adjust development cycles when needed. Alignment is what you're seeking. The same answer should be given by your stakeholders when questions are asked. If your teams' and their customers are on the same page- that's a strong indication of a job well done!