Town Hall Session from PCA Summer 2010 on how spreadsheets just aren't cutting it anymore. Slide content from attendees . . .

1. Carrie T. Nauyalis Product Line Manager Planview, Inc. Climbing Out of Spreadsheet HellWhy Spreadsheets Aren’t Cutting it Anymore

2. sponsors

3. please take a moment to Identify someone to watch time – give 5 minute warning at :45 minutes. Identify someone to take notes – post notes to http://barcamp.org/ProductCampAustinSummer2010Notes Thank our sponsors

4. Today’s Session If you manage a product portfolio, you’re probably used to dealing with a PLETHORA of spreadsheets: the product catalog prioritized projects for the next release current resource utilization the product P&L the release schedule the product backlog the technology & product roadmap the product requirements spreadsheet and MORE! Seriously! How is this possibly manageable? And how is a product manager expected to analyze all of this disparate data to ensure strategic alignment of work, to mitigate risk in the portfolio, and to smoke the competition with the next launch? In this HIGHLY interactive session, submitted for PCA Summer 2010, Product Campers will discuss the benefits and challenges of spreadsheets and what other solutions work effectively to manage all of this information.

5. This session was a “Town Hall-style,” discussion-oriented presentation. All presentation content was generated by the attendees as part of the session discussion. Presenter’s Notes

6. Easily Accessible Easy to Use Repository for Data Common Format Charts & Graphs Robust Calculations Scenarios on Tabs Sort, Filter, & Prioritize Pivot Tables Options for Flexibility Manages Checklists Well Common Import/Export Inexpensive Fun (on a good day!) Stability, in terms of changes Embedded Calculator Benefits of Spreadsheets

7. Only 1 person can edit at a time Version Control Unable to effectively manage changes Consistency of data entry Formula errors Bad calculations = bad decisions Keeping the spreadsheet up to date Skill level required to do robust calculations Error prone Multiple versions of the truth Crashes! Size limitations – not a database Collaboration is tough Updates sometimes need a refresh Management treats it as the tool to answer all questions Challenges of Spreadsheets

8. 8:25

10. Document Repository

12. Don’t integrate well

14. “Spreadsheet Hell” is 1 of 5 Pitfalls of Product Portfolio Management uncovered in a 2009 Benchmark Survey on Product Development Working on 2nd Annual Study for 2010 What other questions should we ask? What would you be interested in knowing about Product Portfolio Management? The Big Picture

15. Small Companies/Startups Few people / Small Budget Tools / Systems Infrastructure Path for Growth Best Practices / Lessons Learned Collaborate on Experience Compare History Confidence in Projections Wins / Losses End of Life Internal How to Manage Emotions vs. Facts Product Life Cycle Better Metrics & Decisions Cross-Functional Challenges Managing interdependencies Common language / format Areas of Interest

16. Thank You! Carrie T. Nauyalis Product Line Manager Planview, Inc.

17. sponsors