Episode 35: Get It Done - Product Planning w/Melissa Klemke

Product planning can be a daunting task for many, but for those of us addicted to planning, it's just another opportunity to organize our work in several layers and horizons. Whether you love it or hate it, planning is essential to delivering quality work on time and handling the never-ending inflow of new tasks.

But what does it take to become a successful product planner? According to Melissa Klemke, the Director of Product Management at Elmo, it all comes down to the RTTOM method - Really That's The Only Method. In this episode of The Productbeats Show, we'll explore the RTTOM method in depth and provide you with a template and checklist to help you get started.

Before diving into the RTTOM method, it's important to understand the benefits of product planning. Planning enables you to prioritize your work while allowing flexibility where needed. It also helps you determine what success looks like and how you'll measure it. By making commitments with deadlines, outcomes, and profits, planning helps make life more predictable in an unpredictable world.

Some people believe that planning is a waste of time, and they would rather "learn as they go." However, this approach can often lead to mistakes due to poor planning, missed deadlines, and overlooked outcomes. It's important not to fall victim to the "shiny object syndrome" or believe that you just know what your biggest problem or opportunity is. Always plan to deliver, measure, and validate your work.

While many people think of product planning as simply roadmap planning, it's important to remember that there's more to it than that. Product planning involves all the steps that come before the roadmap is delivered and measuring how you did. This is where the RTTOM method comes into play.

The RTTOM method consists of five phases: Research and Discovery, Technical Planning, Technical Execution Planning, Operational Planning, and Measure and Validation. Let's take a closer look at each phase:

The first phase of the RTTOM method involves understanding the value of the project. This phase is all about defining the problem, understanding your customers, and identifying what they want and need. It's important to never skip this phase, as it's essential to building the right thing, not just the first thing.

Once you understand the value of the project, it's time to move onto the technical planning phase. This phase involves identifying the technical dependencies required to build the project. It's important to consider technical debt and squash any debt in the process, as well as consider the pay-back timeframe for any debt you create.

The third phase of the RTTOM method involves planning the technical execution of the project. This phase involves breaking down the project into manageable tasks, identifying the resources needed, and estimating the time required for each task.

Once you've planned the technical execution of the project, it's time to move onto the operational planning phase. This phase involves mobilizing the delivery of the project by identifying the processes, procedures, and tools required to support the project.

The final phase of the RTTOM method involves measuring and validating the value of the project. This phase involves measuring the outcomes against the original goals, identifying any areas that need improvement, and validating the value of the project.

If you're interested in improving your product planning and management skills, you might want to consider taking a certification program. One such program that stands out is The Productbeats Product Management Certification Program. This program is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a successful product manager. With a focus on practical application, you'll learn how to apply the latest frameworks and methodologies in product management to your work. So if you're ready to take your product management skills to the next level, The Productbeats Product Management Certification Program might be the perfect next step for you.