Dinker Charak's Blog

In the fast-paced world of product management, the ability to adapt quickly and efficiently is crucial for achieving product-market fit. One approach that has gained significant traction in recent years is the fail-fast methodology. This approach emphasizes the importance of quickly identifying potential risks and taking immediate action to mitigate them. By doing so, product managers can avoid wasting time and resources on ideas that are unlikely to succeed and instead focus their efforts on more promising opportunities.

To help product managers implement the fail-fast approach effectively, a streamlined template has been developed. This template, known as the fail-fast canvas, provides a structured framework for identifying key capabilities and potential risks at each stage of product development. By using this canvas, product managers can make informed decisions about which ideas to pursue and which to discard, ultimately increasing their chances of achieving product-market fit.

Fail-Fast Canvas

The fail-fast canvas is divided into four main sections, each corresponding to a different phase of product development: Creation, Early Adoption, Early Revenue, and Mainstreaming. In each section, product managers outline the key capabilities they intend to focus on and assess the potential risks they may encounter when transitioning to the next phase. Based on this assessment, they then decide whether to maintain, modify, pivot, or eliminate each capability as they progress through the product development process.

In the Creation phase, product managers lay the foundation for their product by outlining the essential capabilities they intend to develop. They then assess the potential risks associated with transitioning from this phase to the Early Adoption phase and make decisions about how to proceed based on this assessment.

In the Early Adoption phase, product managers focus on integrating their product into the early market and identifying potential customers. They assess the risks associated with transitioning to the Early Revenue phase and make decisions about which capabilities to maintain, modify, pivot, or eliminate based on this assessment.

In the Early Revenue phase, product managers aim to start generating revenue from their product. They assess the risks associated with transitioning to the Mainstreaming phase and make decisions about which capabilities to maintain, modify, pivot, or eliminate based on this assessment.

In the Mainstreaming phase, product managers focus on establishing their product in the mainstream market and ensuring widespread adoption. They assess the risks associated with this phase and make final decisions about which capabilities to maintain, modify, pivot, or eliminate based on this assessment.

By using the “Fail Fast” canvas, product managers can navigate the challenges of product development with agility and foresight. By quickly identifying potential risks and taking immediate action to mitigate them, product managers can increase their chances of achieving product-market fit and ultimately, the success of their product.

Risk Planning Canvas

The Risk Planning Canvas is a companion tool to the Fail-Fast Canvas, providing a structured framework to not only identify and understand risks but also to develop actionable strategies to address them. It is a proactive approach to risk management, ensuring that potential risks are addressed and mitigated effectively.

Components of the Risk Planning Canvas

Risk Identification: Clearly articulate the potential risk or challenge that could impact the product development process.

Phase(s) Affected: Specify the phase(s) in the product development cycle where the risk could manifest.

Handling Failure Early to Fail-Fast: Describe how the team intends to approach the identified risk, including the overarching plan or approach, experimental steps or pilot tests, and measurement of outcomes.

Risk Tolerance: Determine the level of risk that the team can bear or assimilate without drastic adjustments, and the level of risk that would necessitate immediate interventions or changes in strategy.

Sunk-Cost and Abandon: Determine the point at which the risk becomes so significant that the team should consider either fully abandoning the current direction or making a major pivot.

Governance: Indicate whether the decision (to absorb, mitigate, or abandon) has received approval or endorsement from the Governance Team.

Risk Categories: Categorize the nature of the risk for a more nuanced understanding and strategy development. Categories include technology, funding, adoption, revenue generation, team capabilities, organization fitment, scaling, internal and external dependencies, legal and compliance, and program management.

Benefits of the Risk Planning Canvas

By leveraging the Risk Planning Canvas, teams can foster a proactive approach to risk management, optimizing their product development journey while being agile in their decision-making processes. It ensures that risks are identified early and strategies are in place to address them, ultimately increasing the chances of success for the product.

In conclusion, the Risk Planning Canvas is a valuable tool for product managers and teams looking to navigate the complex landscape of product development. By proactively identifying and addressing risks, teams can increase their chances of success and ensure that their products are well-positioned to meet the needs of their customers.

Get Fail-Fast & Risk Planning Canvas Fail-Fast Canvas (PDF) Fail-Fast Template (Google Sheet)Your Example

If you have used this version of the Battlecard, do consider sharing a non-confidential version with me. I will post it here along with attribution. The more we share, the more we learn!

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While there are many documents and resources that can support the sales process, one stands out as particularly crucial: the sales battlecard. This document, often overlooked, is a powerhouse when it comes to arming your sales team with the information they need to close deals effectively.

What is a Sales Battlecard?

A sales battlecard is a succinct document that provides salespeople with key information about competitors, their products, and how to position your own product in the market. It is essentially a cheat sheet that equips your sales team with the knowledge and confidence to address any competitor-related questions or objections that may arise during the sales process.

Structure of a Sales Battlecard

A well-crafted sales battlecard follows a structured format to ensure that all relevant information is covered. Here’s a breakdown of the typical sections found in a sales battlecard:

Competitor Overview: This section provides a brief description of the competitor, their product, and their target market. It sets the stage for the rest of the document.

Competitor Product Description: Here, the document goes into more detail about the competitor’s product, focusing on its core functionalities and key features that make it stand out in the market.

Competitor Product Pricing: This section breaks down the competitor’s pricing model, detailing what is included in each tier. It also highlights any special offerings, such as free trials or promotions.

Competitor’s Claims About Their Product: Here, the battlecard addresses specific claims that the competitor makes about their product, providing a counterpoint or alternative perspective.

Competitor’s Claims About Your Product: Similarly, this section addresses any claims that the competitor makes about your product, providing specific counterpoints or data to refute these claims.

Competitor’s Strengths: This section describes the competitor’s strengths and provides a counterpoint, highlighting why customers chose your solution over these strengths.

Competitor’s Weaknesses: Conversely, this section describes the competitor’s weaknesses and provides a solution, highlighting a feature or benefit of your product that addresses these weaknesses.

Cost of Not Buying Your Product: This section provides statistical or financial arguments to illustrate the cost of not choosing your product over the competitor’s.

How to Win: Finally, this section summarizes the key talking points for choosing your product over the competitor’s and provides actions to guide a meeting towards a successful close.

In conclusion, a well-crafted sales battlecard is an indispensable tool for any sales team. It provides the information and confidence your salespeople need to address competitor-related questions and objections, ultimately helping them close more deals and drive revenue for your business.

Get Battlecard Template Battlecard Template (PDF) Battlecard Template (Google Sheet)Your Example

If you have used this version of the Battlecard, do consider sharing a non-confidential version with me. I will post it here along with attribution. The more we share, the more we learn!

 

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Excited to share that I recently had the honor of joining the��Thoughtworks��Technology Podcast to discuss Measuring Engineering Excellence! As a regular listener of the show, it was a “wow” moment to be a part of it.

During the conversation,��Sachin Dharmapurikar��and I explored the limitations of DORA metrics and introduced��EEBO Metrics, a new framework that aligns engineering excellence with business outcomes . I believe it’s crucial for engineering teams to see the impact of their work on business success, and EEBO metrics offer a comprehensive view.

We also talked about:
Establishing a correlation between EE and BO
Importance of multi-variate & outcome metrics
Concept of fully modeled metrics

Listen to the podcast to learn more about EEBO Metrics (https://www.eebo.org) and how they can revolutionize your approach to engineering metrics and drive meaningful business results. Thank you to��Premanand Chandrasekaran��and��Scott Shaw��for hosting us.

Listen on your fav app

The post Guest on Thoughtworks Technology Podcast – EEBO Metrics appeared first on Dinker Charak.

I recently participated in a Podcast on EEBO Metrics. Here are the details:

EP 30 – Effective Metrics and Measurements in Engineering: EEBO Metrics
Interview with Sachin Dharmapurikar and Dinker Charak
“In our first interview, we talk to Sachin and Dinker who are the driving force behind the EEBO metrics framework. In our discussion, we have a deep discussion about the significance of metrics and measurements in the engineering domain along with emphasizing the importance of establishing clear intentions and a shared understanding when implementing metrics. We also talk about the potential pitfalls of fixating on a single metric, leading to defensive behavior and reduced confidence. The goal is to provide valuable insights and practical steps for teams and leaders looking to leverage metrics effectively in their organizations.”

Listen >>

The post Guest on thinkbigcodesmall.io Podcast on EEBO Metrics appeared first on Dinker Charak.

A technologist and a product manager wonder if “bug open rate” is a good fitness metric or not.

All Platforms:
��� Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/luswig-let-us-see-where-it-goes/id1685928302
��� YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@luswig
��� Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I4necoezPS7LakktKAZmv
��� Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/98b87b3f-3b47-4086-a4ec-36b3a2fd3b0d

About:
��� Views expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect that of our employer
��� Dinker Charak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinkercharak – https://www.dinker.in – https://notionpress.com/read/proma
��� Sachin Dharmapurikar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharmapur...

The post What about ���bug reopen rate?��� – Let us see where it goes (031) – Podcast appeared first on Dinker Charak.

A technologist and a product manager talk about how-to and importance of modeling metrics right.

All Platforms:
��� Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/luswig-let-us-see-where-it-goes/id1685928302
��� YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@luswig
��� Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I4necoezPS7LakktKAZmv
��� Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/98b87b3f-3b47-4086-a4ec-36b3a2fd3b0d

About:
��� Views expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect that of our employer
��� Dinker Charak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinkercharak – https://www.dinker.in – https://notionpress.com/read/proma
��� Sachin Dharmapurikar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharmapurikar

The post Fully Modeled Metrics – Let us see where it goes (030) – Podcast appeared first on Dinker Charak.

A technologist and a product manager talk about a scenario where Tech was doing well, but business is complaining. How EEBO Metrics could have helped?

Notes & Mentions:
��� https://www.eebo.org
��� https://agilemumbai.com/

Other Platforms:
��� Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/luswig-let-us-see-where-it-goes/id1685928302
��� Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I4necoezPS7LakktKAZmv
��� Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/98b87b3f-3b47-4086-a4ec-36b3a2fd3b0d
��� YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@luswig

About:
��� Views expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect that of our employer
��� Dinker Charak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinkercharak – https://www.dinker.in – https://notionpress.com/read/proma
��� Sachin Dharmapurikar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharmapurikar

The post Tech is doing well, but business is complaining – Let us see where it goes (029) – Podcast appeared first on Dinker Charak.

Sachin & Dinker share the 9 conversations that molded the EEBO Metrics concept.

Notes & Mentions:
��� https://www.eebo.org/
��� https://www.thoughtworks.com/insights/blog/engineering-effectiveness/engineering-powering-business-growth
��� https://www.thoughtworks.com/en-in/insights/blog/dysfunctional-metrics-kill-agile-transformations-0

Other Platforms:
��� Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/luswig-let-us-see-where-it-goes/id1685928302
��� Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4I4necoezPS7LakktKAZmv
��� iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/338-luswig-let-us-see-where-it-114412569/
��� Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/98b87b3f-3b47-4086-a4ec-36b3a2fd3b0d

About:
��� Views expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect that of our employer
��� Dinker Charak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinkercharak – https://www.dinker.in – https://notionpress.com/read/proma
��� Sachin Dharmapurikar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharmapurikar

The post EEBO Metrics – Origin Story – Let us see where it goes (028) – Podcast appeared first on Dinker Charak.

Book Title

“Echoes of the Future: The Unseen War”

Genre

Science Fiction, Conspiracy Thriller

Synopsis

In the year 2074, an unlikely duo in war-torn Afghanistan, a conspiracy theorist named Farid and a brilliant mathematician, Zara, stumble upon a baffling anomaly. They discover an obscure digital footprint showing that on a single day 50 years ago, a seemingly unrelated group of individuals – Christian Oliver, Neri Oxman, AR Rahman, Hana Rawhiti, Rinku Singh, and David Warner – along with the release of the movie “Tiger 3” all trended simultaneously worldwide. This day, known for its mix of tragic and celebratory news, was brushed off as a coincidence.

However, Farid’s obsession with extraterrestrial theories and Zara’s mathematical prowess lead them to unearth a hidden pattern. Their investigation reveals a complex web of events initiated by an alien intelligence, which had been influencing Earth’s trajectory subtly.

As they delve deeper, they uncover that this alien force had been sowing seeds for a global conflict, manipulating events and people like pawns. The trending of these individuals and the movie was not random but a coded message in a grand scheme that was only visible from the vantage point of half a century.

Their research brings them into a clandestine world of secret societies, government cover-ups, and extraterrestrial communications. Farid and Zara find themselves entangled in a dangerous game. With each revelation, they come closer to understanding the alien’s ultimate goal: a war that would decide Earth’s future and humanity’s role in the cosmos.

The duo races against time to piece together the final elements of this interstellar puzzle. In a climactic revelation, they discover that the key to thwarting this cosmic war lies in understanding the true significance of the events and personalities that trended 50 years ago.

“Echoes of the Future: The Unseen War” is a gripping tale that weaves together historical events, futuristic technology, and a universal struggle for control, setting the stage for an epic showdown between Earth’s united forces and a formidable alien adversary.

Themes:

Conspiracy and Revelation: The story explores the theme of hidden truths and the quest to uncover them, highlighting the thin line between conspiracy theories and reality.Fate and Free Will: The interplay between predetermined cosmic events and the characters’ actions raises questions about destiny and autonomy.Unity Against Adversity: The global effort against a common extraterrestrial threat underscores the importance of unity and collaboration.Science and Superstition: The narrative bridges scientific inquiry and mystical elements, delving into how they intersect and influence each other.The Human Spirit: At its core, the story celebrates the resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit in the face of insurmountable odds.

Setting:

The story is set in a futuristic, yet recognizable Earth, with advanced technology and a backdrop of global instability. The contrast between the war-torn regions and the high-tech urban centers highlights the disparities in this future world.

Conclusion

“Echoes of the Future: The Unseen War” is a visionary tale, merging science fiction with a deep-seated human narrative, inviting readers to question the nature of reality, the unseen forces at play, and the power of human connection in altering the course of history.

[This a sci-fi story in form of a review of a fictitious sci-fi book. Book cover generated using DALL-E.]

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In a future where technology has revolutionized sports, the cricket match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe is set to be an extraordinary event, unlike any cricket match seen before.

The year is 2050, and Sri Lanka, a renowned cricketing nation, is hosting Zimbabwe for a historic match. The venue is the newly built Colombo Orbital Stadium, a marvel of engineering, floating high above the Earth’s atmosphere. This zero-gravity stadium, with its transparent dome, offers breathtaking views of Earth and space, providing an otherworldly backdrop for the game.

The players, equipped with advanced exosuits designed to enhance their performance in zero gravity, float onto the pitch. The suits are sleek and fitted, adorned with the colors of their respective national flags ��� electric blue and golden yellow for Sri Lanka, and green, yellow, red, and black for Zimbabwe. These suits not only compensate for the lack of gravity but also enhance the players’ strength and agility.

The ball used in the match is a marvel of technology itself. It’s a smart ball, equipped with sensors to accurately measure speed, spin, and trajectory. The ball glows with neon lights, making it visible against the backdrop of space.

As the game begins, the traditional rules of cricket are adapted to this new environment. Batsmen have to adjust their techniques to hit the ball in zero gravity, while bowlers experiment with spins and speeds that were impossible on Earth. Fielders glide and somersault through the air to catch the ball, adding a breathtaking acrobatic element to the game.

The audience, watching from the stadium and via live holographic broadcasts around the world, is treated to a spectacle of neon trails, floating players, and a panoramic view of Earth below. The scoreboard and replays are holographically projected onto the field, making the experience immersive and interactive.

As the match progresses, it becomes a clash of strategy and skill, amplified by the unique conditions of space. The Sri Lankan team, known for their spin bowling, tries to use the zero-gravity conditions to their advantage. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean team, with their strong batting lineup, adapts quickly, hitting the ball in arcs that would be impossible under the pull of Earth’s gravity.

The cricket match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe becomes more than just a game. It’s a celebration of human innovation and sporting spirit, transcending the boundaries of Earth and taking the beloved game into the final frontier ��� space.

[A sci-fi based on current trends. Cover art via Dall-e.]

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