What strategies can you use to communicate technical constraints to product managers?

Make sure product managers understand the amount of work and complexity involved To assess the cost vs benefit of what they are asking It is least good to discuss alternatives and collaborate in making the right decision

Use Clear and Concise Language: Avoid jargon and technical details that might be confusing to non-technical stakeholders. Use clear and concise language to convey the essential information about the constraints without overwhelming the product manager with technical details. Highlight Risks and Implications: Clearly articulate the risks associated with the technical constraints. Discuss the potential implications on project timelines, costs, and the overall success of the product. This helps product managers understand the importance of addressing or mitigating these constraints. Relate to Business Objectives: Connect technical constraints to the broader business objectives.

First and foremost, you need to understand the important goals and criteria for the product manager. They will be concerned about a number of things such as cost, production times, supplier chain issues, reliability, and customer acceptance. When you are presenting technical constraints then have options for solutions and how each of those options affect the product manager's goals and criteria.

Product managers are strategic leaders who are responsible for delineating a product evolution and introduction trajectory, anticipating the customer’s needs, and spearheading the business toward differentiation and profitability. While communicating technical constraints to a product manager, consider translating how such limitations impact the value proposition, product performance, features, and the customer experience. Also, include options, alternatives, or potential compromises that may achieve the critical product requirements within the boundaries that technical constraints may impose. Finally, approach the conversation with curiosity and deepen your expertise on the linkage between technology and value creation.

To effectively communicate technical constraints to product managers, it's crucial to clearly articulate the impact of these constraints on the product's development, performance, and end-user experience. Begin by identifying the specific technical limitations, whether they are related to software, hardware, or resource constraints. Enterprise search and data retrieval tools like Bridges by Babylon put all constraints and data a click away for all engineers and stakeholders. By clearly outlining the impact, product managers can better understand the gravity of technical constraints and the necessity of addressing them effectively with the appropriate tools.

After explaining the impact of technical constraints, the next step is to align with product managers on priorities. This involves a mutual understanding of what is most important for the product and the organization as a whole. Start by discussing the product's key objectives and how they align with the company's overall strategy. This might include aspects like market positioning, customer needs, and long-term growth plans. Enterprise search and data retrieval tools like Bridges, for example, bring the project's requirements to each knowledge worker. If there are constraints in speed or accuracy, these are immediately available.

It involves ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goals and objectives and that everyone understands their role in the product development and launch process.

This should always be a transparent conversation. Once agreed between Eng and Product, we should share with the team why we shifted priorities. It's super important team members understand when priorities change and if anything is unclear they should feel comfortable asking for clarification.

Collaboration is key in finding workable solutions to technical constraints. Involve product managers in the problem-solving process. Start by brainstorming sessions where both technical and product teams can propose potential solutions. Encourage creativity and open-mindedness, as sometimes unconventional approaches can lead to innovative solutions. Utilize tools and methodologies that facilitate collaboration. For instance, employing Agile methodologies can help in iteratively addressing constraints while continuously aligning with product goals. In the case of enterprise search tools like Bridges by Babylon, consider exploring alternative technologies or approaches that could circumvent or mitigate the constraints.

Collaboration improves the way your team works together and problem solves. This leads to more innovation, efficient processes, increased success, and improved communication.

It takes time to explain things succinctly. We are all responsible for explaining things clearly, but we are also responsible for listening and asking clarifying questions. Too often we just want to skip the explanation and ask, "So how long is it going to take?" ultimately only concerned with the effort estimate. I always ask the team to put this information in writing, often in a Google Doc. So the information becomes accessible to other teams and allows for it to be collaborated on asynchronously.

Education and ongoing communication are vital. Ensure that product managers understand the technical aspects that underpin their products. Conduct regular knowledge-sharing sessions where technical teams can explain complex concepts in accessible language. For example, a session on how enterprise search and data retrieval tools like Bridges by Babylon work can provide product managers with insights into what is technically possible and what isn't. Also, keep the product managers informed about technological advancements that might affect or alleviate existing constraints. The tech landscape evolves rapidly, and staying updated can lead to new opportunities to improve product offerings.

Finally, it’s important to consider a few additional aspects. Feedback Loops: Establish regular feedback loops between technical teams and product managers. This ensures ongoing communication and helps in quickly addressing any new constraints that arise. Risk Management: Have a clear risk management strategy in place. Understand and plan for the risks associated with technical constraints, including contingency plans. Cultural Alignment: Foster a culture where technical and product teams respect and understand each other's roles. A collaborative culture can significantly enhance the effectiveness of communication. Customer Perspective: Always keep the end-user in mind.

Like with anyone else, try to relate to their interests, understand their perspective, get their priorities and adapt your communication to their style. In other words, before laying out all the constraints ask questions to find their goals and adapt to those. And don’t stop at describing the constraints, go further towards offering options with pros and cons plus your expert opinion. Doing this gets any Engineer closer to being a product builder not only a code writer.