Product for Engineers
But they have a nasty habit of manifesting into meaningful deadlines. Deadlines that generate mountains of debt and slow you down over time.
Execs set a deadline to “speed up” the engineers. Sales offer the deadline to customers. Customers are excited; execs are delighted.
There’s a reckoning. Arguments and finger pointing ensue. Eventually, a new deadline is agreed enforced. “We must not miss again!”
Customers are annoyed and sales rejig their promises to customers. Hello, commercial debt! It’s like technical debt, but for creating difficult customer situations.
They’re placated via constant updates and alignment meetings. The customers who complain the loudest get what they want, even if it makes the product worse.
Everyone’s relieved it’s over, but customers are underwhelmed. What you shipped is far less than sales promised, and it only partially solves their problem.
Some customers found other solutions because you took too long, others use yours for a while and give up. Some just realize the problem wasn’t that important after all.
