Keeping up to date with the status of the work, absorbing new requirements and sudden changes, meshing internal and client needs…these are a big part of my daily routine as a project manager in Baited. And to keep up with all the work that needs to be done, some ingredients are a must!
Those who, like me, find peace and inspiration in walking long paths and routes in the mountains, know that the journey starts even before the trailhead. You need motivation, mental and physical preparation first; and you need to plan the stages and organize the equipment to deal with what you are going to face.
What does all this have to do with product development and release? Well, it may sound strange, but they have a lot in common!
The first pitfall to overcome is indeed motivation: it is essential that the whole team is ready to embark on the journey, well aware of the possible difficulties that will be encountered. But the goal is one, and one only: to reach the peak!
Is this enough to get going? Of course not. You need to choose travel mates, people who have the right skills to handle every need-and the unexpected, too! In addition to technical skills, it is crucial that they are all ready to adapt to any changes in plans, especially on the run. After all, you know, the weather changes quickly in the mountains!
This is precisely why it is imperative to plan the distances and elevation gain to be covered each day, the role each person must play, and how to address the darn bugs!
Let’s also not forget about support: all the equipment must be meticulously organized, from food to everything, which of useful, must find a place in the backpack.
Do we want to rely on a third party? We should book a shelter.
Do we want to sleep indoors, in a bivouac? Or be independent and sleep in a tent? Depending on the solution we choose we will have to plan for a different type of equipment, which will affect the weight we will have to load on our backs and minds.
Once we have checked all the previous points, we are finally ready to go. Finally the adventure begins!
Now is the time to roll up our sleeves: each team member has their own tasks to complete to come up with the final product. Once put together, we would have our release, with the new features, technical improvements, and troubleshooting, ready to be released and used by our customers.
And in this comparison, you might ask, what is the role of the PM? Well, I like to imagine him as the Sherpa who accompanies and guides to the final destination, the top … or rather the release in this case!
And it’s not easy to get there, it takes joining forces, overcoming adversity and route changes: it’s easy to run into boulders that block the way and you have to find an alternative way.
Where are we now? I would say that by now the peak is visible, the last effort is missing, the final climb to reach it! Then we could enjoy the moment for which we have struggled so hard and recover our energy…after all, we need to be ready for the next mountain!
Project Manager
