Inheriting a Product

Or, How to Live with Other People’s Mistakes

Ideally we would start from square one.

But we don’t.

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?

I

Insp

iratio

n!

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?

Take Notes

Who likes who?

Now breath.

They already know what to fix…

They just can’t fix it themselves. Why?

Is the problem the product?

… the people?

…or the culture?

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

Build trust

Then change things

Summary• Listen• Take Notes• Don’t act• Make a plan• Little Wins• Ignore the product; focus on the team.