Senior leadership is pushing for faster product deliveries. How can you ensure quality doesn't suffer?

Use the Critical path method. The critical path method is a technique that allows you to identify tasks that are necessary for project completion. The critical path is the longest sequence of activities that must be finished on time to complete the entire project. To shorten (crashing) a critical path one has following options: - Shorten the duration/work on a task on the critical path - Break a critical task into smaller tasks that can be worked on at the same time by different resources - Revise task dependencies to enable more scheduling flexibility - Set lead time between dependent tasks where applicable - Schedule overtime - Assign additional resources to work on critical path tasks

I would follow the Scrum methodology in the case. This involves working in short sprints, typically 2-4 weeks, with defined goals and deliverables. The team will have daily stand-ups to ensure alignment and address issues promptly. At the end of each sprint, we'll conduct a review and retrospective to assess progress and identify improvements, ensuring continuous delivery of high-quality product increments.

One key strategy is scope cutting. Identify the core features that provide the most value and focus on delivering those first. Prioritize clear communication with your team. Regular check-ins and transparent feedback loops help catch issues early. Invest in robust testing and automation. These tools can significantly speed up quality assurance without sacrificing thoroughness.

Agile methods help speed up delivery without lowering quality. Break down the development process into smaller increments or 'sprints'. This approach lets you reassess and adapt frequently. Regular stand-ups and sprint reviews keep everyone aligned and address any quality concerns quickly. Using smaller, manageable tasks allows the team to focus on delivering value fast while remaining flexible to fix issues. Continuous testing during these sprints catches problems early, ensuring a high-quality end product. This iterative method maintains a balance between fast delivery and quality, meeting leadership's goals without compromising standards.

Defining clear, measurable objectives using the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) can be useful. This framework might be more suitable than the OKR framework when we are operating under a strict deadline or time-bound environment. Clear objectives align the team on what needs to be delivered and prevent scope creep, which can compromise quality.

Set the objectives and success metrics early. This will ensure that everyone knows where they are headed. Also make these metrics shared outcomes for the product and engineering teams to ensure close collaboration and shared responsibility.

In order to prevent quality from suffering in the face of accelerated product delivery, set specific goals, set sensible priorities, and cultivate an excellence-focused culture. Make sure the team knows "why" they are working on the project by clearly defining the goals and coordinating them with strategic priorities. To stay focused and flexible, use agile approaches like Scrum or Kanban along with thorough planning. To find problems early, make use of code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. Hold frequent retrospectives to pinpoint areas that need improvement, and use pair programming to improve the quality of your code.

Improve 10x Your Product Work with Rowsup.io ___ Setting crystal-clear objectives is crucial when time is of the essence. Ensure all team members understand the end goal and the expected quality standards. This clarity minimizes wasted effort on non-essential features and keeps the team focused on what truly matters. Clearly defined objectives provide a benchmark to measure the product's quality throughout the development cycle, ensuring consistent alignment and effective use of time and resources.

Estabeleça objetivos claros e bem definidos para cada sprint ou ciclo de trabalho. Quando todos na equipe entendem exatamente o que precisa ser alcançado e quais são as prioridades, é mais fácil manter o foco e a direção, reduzindo a chance de erros e retrabalhos que possam comprometer a qualidade.

Improve 10x Your Product Work with Rowsup.io ___ Efficiency in processes is vital for fast deliveries. Streamline workflows and eliminate unnecessary steps to reduce time-to-market, but ensure crucial quality checks remain intact. Techniques like Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) automate the software release process, maintaining high quality while improving speed. Efficient processes are about working smarter, not cutting corners, allowing your team to deliver quickly without compromising on quality.

Streamlining your processes can save time and maintain quality. Identify bottlenecks and eliminate unnecessary steps. For instance, automating repetitive tasks using tools like Zapier or developing standard operating procedures can free up your team's bandwidth for more critical tasks. Efficiency doesn't mean cutting corners; it means working smarter.

Otimize os processos de desenvolvimento para eliminar desperdícios e aumentar a eficiência. Isso inclui a automação de tarefas repetitivas, melhoria das ferramentas de colaboração e comunicação, e a padronização de procedimentos. Processos bem afinados garantem que a equipe possa trabalhar de forma mais rápida e eficiente sem sacrificar a qualidade.

In my role as a Product Lead for a mobile app, we faced challenges in accelerating our release cycles while ensuring high quality. To address this, I led the initiative to streamline our development workflows. - We implemented automated testing suites that ran continuously throughout the development process, catching bugs early. 2. We also reduced manual intervention in the release process significantly and focus more on innovation and less on repetitive tasks. 3. We established clear metrics and monitoring tools to track the performance of our CI/CD pipelines, enabling us to quickly identify and address any bottlenecks. This resulted in 25-30% reduction in our time-to-market for new features and updates.

Streamlining processes can save a lot of time. Identify any bottlenecks and work to eliminate them. For instance, we noticed that our code review process was slowing us down. By introducing peer reviews and automating parts of the testing process, we cut down review times significantly. It’s like decluttering your workspace—everything runs smoother when you’re organized.

Improve 10x Your Product Work with Rowsup.io ___ Cross-functional teams bring diverse skills and perspectives, essential for quickly identifying and solving quality issues. Encourage open communication and collaboration between developers, designers, quality assurance, and other stakeholders. This synergy accelerates problem-solving and fosters a shared sense of responsibility for the product's quality. Ensuring quality doesn't get sidelined in the rush to deliver, cross-functional collaboration promotes a holistic approach to maintaining standards while meeting deadlines.

Having cross-functional teams ensures that different perspectives are considered, leading to more robust solutions. Encourage collaboration between developers, designers, and QA engineers. In one of my projects, fostering a collaborative environment led to innovative solutions and quicker problem-solving. Regular cross-functional meetings can keep everyone aligned and aware of their interdependencies.

Forme equipes multifuncionais que possam trabalhar de forma autônoma e colaborativa. Equipes que possuem todas as habilidades necessárias para completar um projeto dentro de si mesmas podem reduzir a dependência de outros departamentos e acelerar o tempo de entrega. Além disso, a colaboração estreita entre diferentes especialidades pode ajudar a manter altos padrões de qualidade.

Cross-functional teams can accelerate delivery without sacrificing quality. By having diverse skills in one team, you can solve problems more efficiently. During the development of our Denial Management solution, our team included developers, QA, UX designers, and product owners. This diversity meant we could address issues from multiple angles and come up with solutions quickly. It’s like having a well-rounded sports team-each player’s unique skills contribute to the overall success.

Cross-functional teams bring diverse skills and perspectives, helping to identify and solve quality issues quickly. Encourage open communication and collaboration among developers, designers, quality assurance, and other stakeholders. This teamwork accelerates problem-solving and creates a shared sense of responsibility for the product's quality. Everyone works together, ensuring quality isn't overlooked in the rush to deliver. With diverse input, potential problems are spotted early, and innovative solutions are developed, balancing speed with maintaining high standards. This approach keeps the team aligned and focused on delivering a top-quality product swiftly.

Start by identifying critical test scenarios and automate them to run seamlessly with every build using tools like Selenium for web applications or Appium for mobile apps. Ensure that defects are caught early, allowing teams to address them promptly. Regularly update and expand your test suite based on evolving requirements and feedback, optimizing coverage and reliability over time.

Improve 10x Your Product Work with Rowsup.io ___ Robust testing is non-negotiable, even under time constraints. Automated testing provides fast, reliable feedback on product quality. Invest in a solid test automation framework to run a suite of tests with every build. This approach catches defects early, preventing them from escalating into larger issues. By integrating automated testing into your process, you ensure that quality remains uncompromised while maintaining speed and efficiency in product development.

Invest in a strong testing framework to catch issues early. Automated testing tools like Selenium or continuous integration services like Jenkins can help maintain high quality without slowing down development. In my experience, integrating automated testing into our pipeline significantly reduced post-release bugs and instilled confidence in our deployments.

Implemente uma estratégia de testes robusta que inclua testes automatizados, testes de integração contínua e testes de aceitação. Garantir que cada parte do produto seja testada rigorosamente antes do lançamento é essencial para manter a qualidade, mesmo sob pressão para entregar rapidamente.

Robust testing is non-negotiable. Implement automated testing to catch issues early. In our projects, we use tools like Postman, Insomnia for API testing and Selenium for automated UI tests. For instance, while working on the DM solution, automated tests helped us identify and fix bugs long before the final release. It’s like having a safety net-testing ensures you catch problems before they escalate.

Improve 10x Your Product Work with Rowsup.io ___ Establishing a rapid feedback loop is crucial for maintaining quality in fast-paced deliveries. Encourage users to provide feedback early and often, and make it easy for them to do so. This direct communication helps identify and address any quality issues that may have been overlooked, ensuring the product meets user needs and expectations as it evolves. A strong feedback loop enhances user satisfaction and helps maintain high quality, even under tight timelines.

Establishing a feedback loop is crucial for continuous improvement. Collect feedback from users and stakeholders regularly and iterate based on their input. Tools like UserVoice or Hotjar can help gather valuable insights. Personally, creating a structured feedback loop in our product cycle led to enhancements that delighted users and kept our product aligned with their needs.

Incorpore um ciclo contínuo de feedback, tanto interno quanto externo. Reúna feedback dos usuários finais, stakeholders e membros da equipe regularmente. Use esse feedback para fazer ajustes e melhorias contínuas no produto. A retroalimentação constante ajuda a identificar e corrigir problemas rapidamente, garantindo que a qualidade permaneça alta.

A strong feedback loop helps maintain quality. Regular feedback from users and stakeholders allows you to make necessary adjustments promptly. During the development of the Prior Authorization product, we conducted weekly feedback sessions with a pilot group of real users. Their insights helped us fine-tune features and improve the user experience. It’s like cooking a dish and tasting it as you go-feedback helps you perfect the final result.

Balancing speed with quality in product delivery demands a proactive approach to user feedback. By fostering a culture where user insights drive iterative improvements, we not only accelerate delivery timelines but also fortify our products against potential quality compromises.

Ensure the enterprise is properly staffed and resourced to maintain quality while supporting the faster deliveries. Put together a roadmap to get from the current shipment level to the desired shipment level, identifying the key changes needed and timing.

Prioritize features based on impact, maintain clear communication with stakeholders, and implement rigorous testing processes. Use agile methodologies to iteratively release and improve, and ensure cross-functional teams are aligned on quality standards and timelines.

Improve 10x Your Product Work with Rowsup.io ___ Consider the importance of cultivating a strong team culture. A motivated, cohesive team is more likely to overcome challenges and maintain high quality under pressure. Share success stories where collaborative efforts led to breakthroughs or where rapid iteration cycles resulted in significant product improvements. Emphasize the value of learning from failures as well as successes, and foster an environment where continuous improvement is a shared goal. This supportive culture can be a critical factor in achieving both speed and quality in product development.

When senior leadership pushes for faster product deliveries, first determine the reasons why. For example, are there business reasons necessitating faster deliveries? Is your team promising overly ambitious Sprint objectives that result in frequent scope changes? If the reason is due to matters of business expediency, consider talking with senior management about the issue. It may be the case that they don’t fully understand the nature the development process and need to be informed on your product development processes. If your Sprints are experiencing frequent scope changes that push out release dates, it may be the case that too many stories are packed into your Sprint or you need to work on ways to reduce the scope of the release.

'Faster' is subjective. Don’t let such words thrown in the air affect you and team. Deep dive and try to understand where senior leadership is coming from. What impression do they have of the deliveries, and how was that impression formed? Are they referring to a particular feature that missed deadlines, or is it an overall notion? What metrics are being hampered by the current delivery speed? Do they have a holistic view of the releases and roadmap? Socialize your roadmap and ask for candid feedback on areas where they want to focus more. If their concerns seem justified, try to reallocate resources to expedite those features instead of pressuring the team to work faster and compromise on quality just because someone said so.