For more than a year now I’ve been keeping myself busy as a product owner for a key initiative at my company. In short, a product owner is an individual responsible for the successful implementation of a “product”, ensuring that maximum value is reached, and is involved from start to finish (incubation to launch and even thereafter). When I say product, I want you to think about the entire vision and value chain related to the solution you intend implementing. For example, although Apple has a “product” called the iPhone, their product owner certainly doesn’t only focus on the physical phone!

This is an often-neglected role, or more specifically, I don’t think enough emphasis is placed on it. It’s a hard-to-define role, but everything seems to just “work” when it’s done successfully. It’s not a job title, it’s something organic. In my journey so far, I’ve emphasised 3 things that (I believe) made a significant difference. And they all start with C, so let’s call them “3C’s of Product Ownership”.

1. Conversation

Having open, honest and clear conversations with everyone involved is critical. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is. If I could only have one Rand for every time I told the same story. Or for every time I walked to someone to talk… You want everyone to share YOUR vision and intended goals, not the broken telephone version that happens so easily when we filter information down the value-chain in typical corporate fashion. Also, you want it to be clear in EVERYONE’s minds, no matter who they are or how small their contribution is to the overall initiative. Personal touch and presence are key.

2. Collaboration

As important as it is to have a clear vision and intended goals, it is just as critical to evolve them based on your conversations and interactions. Accept that you do not know everything. Your way is not always right, and certainly not always the best. Allow everyone involved the ability and opportunity to live their expertise, passion and creativity. You will be astounded at the brilliance that can emerge if people are given the chance to do so. Of course, it’s important to get to where you want to, but there are many paths to get there.

3. Compliment

Finally, always remember that you do not / did not do it alone. Successful execution takes a building full of people, each with their own unique skill set and expertise. They take you where you want to be, you are only the catalyst. Make sure they know how important they are and how critical their contributions are / were to the overall initiative. Thank them, mention them, and buy them a cake. There’s enough focus on the negative or the next, take time to focus on the positive in the present.

If you want to know more about the role of a product owner, I quite like this article. I’ve also written an article about appreciation if you would like to explore that more.

Thanks for your time.

Francis

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