As product managers and product owners, we make a myriad of decisions—from shaping the product strategy to deciding the detailed functionality of our products. But do we make all these decisions effectively? And do we always secure the necessary buy-in? This slide deck wants to helps you make better decisions. It discusses five common decision rules and explains when to apply them.

1. Roman Pichler
romanpichler.com
Making Effective
Product Decisions
Tips for Product Managers
and Product Owners

2. Involve the Right People
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3. 3 © 2017 Pichler Consulting Limited
ScrumMaster/
Coach
Development Team (Reps)
Stakeholder
Product Manager/
Owner
StakeholderStakeholder

4. 4 © 2017 Pichler Consulting Limited
Interest
Power
PlayersSubjects
Crowd
Context
Setters
Source: “Making Strategy” by Eden and Ackermann.

5. Photo courtesy of Pexels
Decide How to Decide

6. 6 © 2017 Pichler Consulting Limited
Based on “The Facilitator’s Guide to
Participatory Decision-Making” by
Sam Kaner et. al.
Common
Decision
Rules
Delegate
Consensus
Decide after discussion
Decide w/o discussion
Majority Vote

7. 7 © 2017 Pichler Consulting Limited
Should you contribute to
the decision as the product
manager or product owner? Delegate
Decide w/o discussion
Do you need to involve team
members and stakeholders?
Majority Vote
NO
Do you have to make the
decision quickly?
Decide after discussion
Consensus
NO
YES
YES
Does the decision have a high
impact?
NO
NOYES
YESSTART

8. Achieve True Consensus
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9. 9 © 2017 Pichler Consulting Limited
Familiar
Options
Diverse
Perspectives
Consolidated
Thinking
Refinements ✔✔
CONSENSUS
Based on “The Facilitator’s Guide to
Participatory Decision-Making” by
Sam Kaner et. al.
✔
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10. 10 © 2017 Pichler Consulting Limited
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