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The Pragmatic Product
@lauravandoore
Laura Van Doore
Head of Product Design, Fathom
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How could a book about programming
written 2 decades ago be applicable to
modern product development?
@lauravandoore
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Building Products in 2019
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Solving problems in a sensible way that suits the
conditions that really exist now, rather than obeying
fixed ideas, theories or rules.
Pragmatic
Adjective
@lauravandoore
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Otherwise we end up with
products like this:
@lauravandoore
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What makes a
pragmatic product person?
@lauravandoore
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They think beyond the immediate problem
and place it in a larger context
Trait #1
BIG PICTURE THINKER
@lauravandoore
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They work with the chess pieces that are on
the board, rather than the resources they
wish they had
Trait #2
DEEPLY REALISTIC
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They constantly re-evaluate and question
current methods, approach & practices
Trait #3
INQUISITIVE
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They deeply care about their craft, and
actively invest in new skill development
Trait #4
SKILLED CRAFTSPERSON
@lauravandoore
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They make informed decisions and
intelligent compromises
Trait #5
SCIENTIFIC MINDSET
@lauravandoore
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Big picture thinker Realistic Inquisitive
Skilled Craftsperson Test & Learn Mindset
Pragmatic Product Mindset Traits
@lauravandoore
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Cultivating a
Pragmatic Product Mindset
@lauravandoore
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Speak more than one language
1
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Learn as many programming
languages as possible
In 1999
@lauravandoore
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The limits of languages influence
how you think about a problem
The Pragmatic Programmer
@lauravandoore
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Building product is a team sport
With many roles and players
In 2019
@lauravandoore
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Learning the languages of your
teammates is a super power
@lauravandoore
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SPEAK MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE
● Customers
● Engineering
● Product Management
● Design & UX
● Business
@lauravandoore
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Shared language and skill overlap
breaks down barriers
@lauravandoore
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Be a catalyst
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@lauravandoore
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A chemical substance that can be added to a
reaction to increase the reaction rate without
getting consumed in the process
Catalyst
Noun
@lauravandoore
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Be a catalyst
Imagine this scenario:
● You have a really clear picture on how to make positive change
● You've got a great grasp on the resources you'll need, and how
to bring it all together.
● It’s a slam dunk
@lauravandoore
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Be a catalyst
● But when asking for permission to get started, you’re met with
delays and blank stares
● People form committees
● Budgets need approvals
● Everyone starts to guards their resources
@lauravandoore
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STORY TIME
Stone Soup
@lauravandoore
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Illustrations by Marcia Brown
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Illustrations by Marcia Brown
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Illustrations by Marcia Brown
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Illustrations by Marcia Brown
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Illustrations by Marcia Brown
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Illustrations by Marcia Brown
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Illustrations by Marcia Brown
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Illustrations by Marcia Brown
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BE A CATALYST
People find it easier to join an
ongoing success
@lauravandoore
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BE A CATALYST
Showing a glimpse of the future
helps folks to rally
@lauravandoore
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BE A CATALYST
Sometimes people aren’t aware of
the value they can contribute
(They don’t know what they can bring to the pot)
@lauravandoore
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Be a catalyst by helping the people around
you see an exciting possible future, with a
clear path for how they can contribute
@lauravandoore
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Invest in your
knowledge portfolio
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Your knowledge & experience are your
most important professional assets.
Unfortunately, they’re expiring assets.
The Pragmatic Programmer
@lauravandoore
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INVEST IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE PORTFOLIO
Diversify
The more areas you have knowledge in, the more
valuable & adaptable you are.
@lauravandoore
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INVEST IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE PORTFOLIO
Manage risk
Tech skills exist along a spectrum from risky, potentially
high-reward to low-risk, low-reward skills.
@lauravandoore
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INVEST IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE PORTFOLIO
Buy low, sell high
Learning emerging technologies or methods might be risky, but it
pays off for early adopters who can end up dominating that area.
@lauravandoore
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Manage your knowledge investments in
a similar way to how you would manage
a financial portfolio
@lauravandoore
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Push for progress over perfection
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PUSH FOR PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION
You can’t design perfect software
There’s no single correct answer when building new features &
products. ‘Perfect’ is dependant on the eye of the beholder.
@lauravandoore
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PUSH FOR PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION
Plan to adapt and iterate. Permanently.
Customers needs are always evolving, usually needing more and
more sophisticated functionality. Product is never done.
@lauravandoore
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Speak more than one language
1
Be a catalyst
2
Invest in your knowledge portfolio
3
Push for progress over perfection
4
@lauravandoore
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Pragmatic Product Mantras
4 bite-sized knowledge nuggets
@lauravandoore
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Don’t live with broken windows
Fix bad designs, wrong decisions, and poor code when you see them.
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Horses, not zebras
Look for expected cause first, rather than searching out something more exotic
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No one from Brazil has purchased our
product, people must not be interested.
Later, user research showed their checkout form validation
didn’t allow Brazilian postcodes to pass
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Carve stones, but think cathedrals
Focus on where the big picture meets the detailed implementation.
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When in doubt ask the duck
Rubber duck debugging is popular with devs, but is handy for other teams too
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Thanks
@lauravandoore