Mission SaaS-ible-If Ethan builds a Product

Mission Impossible is one of the longest-running franchises, which has been delivering successful runs at the box office since 1996.

At the heart of the movie is the core character - Ethan Hunt, who keeps running to make all the missions possible.

Picking a metaphorical comparison by imagining him building a product, to be precise, a SaaS product, how will Ethan do it?

Lets get rolling !

1. The Vision - Impossible Mission

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it..." is the opening line in all the MI movies.

Its always an seemingly impossible Job which sets the tone for the entire movie.

"why" he always accepts the Mission - Its as simple - "To save the world".

The purpose is clear and articulated well.

Similarly - The PMs are handed the over the responsibility of defining the customer's Jobs by aligning the Product Vision and Mission statement.

The Mission looks impossible and daunting, but the "Why " keeps the PM taking up the challenge.

2. The Persistent Villain

In every MI movie - the villain is stronger, bolder and keeps coming back to make the mission seemingly impossible for Ethan Hunt team.

Ethan thwarts the most important hurdle-" Ambitious villain" in his way to achieve the mission. The first step he does is to clearly identify who is actually the rogue?

In the real product world, to accomplish the jobs to do, a PM needs to define what are the user problems, which problems to pick up to solve the achieve the Mission. Is the problem really a problem or a short term pain.

3. Strategy - Planning the Mission:

Before making his first move , Ethan Hunt designs a perfect strategy for all his moves by assessing the enemy, risk and potential partnership or allies.

Likewise, the PMs craft a Product roadmap by analyzing the market trend, user requirement, competition and lay out the timeline to accomplish the releases.

4. Team Building - Assembling the Dream Team:

In "Mission: Impossible," Ethan Hunt handpicks a diverse team of skilled individuals, each with unique talents and expertise.

The same applies to Product Managers; they bring in cross-functional teams, including designers, engineers, marketers, leaders to be in same page.

PMs don't manage them on paper.

Pms don the hat of leading partnering and supporting the cross functional team to deliver high class products.

A well-balanced team brings together different perspectives and ensures the collective skills needed to accomplish the product's mission.

5. Agile Adaptation - Expecting the Unexpected:

Throughout the movie, Ethan faces unexpected challenges to achieve the mission. The only way he gets through is to adapt to new situations.

The actual plan is never the same and he & his team always come out with new tactics to overcome unknown problems.

Likewise, Product Managers face continuous changes in customer preferences, market dynamics, and technological advancements.

Adopting Agile methodologies enables them to pivot swiftly, adjust strategies, and respond to feedback efficiently, making their mission more achievable.

6. Risk Management - Minimizing Threats:

Every mission comes with inherent risks, and Ethan must mitigate them to accomplish his objectives.

In all his movies, Ethan takes a biggest risk than the previous one to strike to unblock the biggest hurdle towards the mission

Ethan takes the initiative and plunge forward to drive his team.

In Product Management, identifying and managing risks are essential. From technical constraints to resource limitations, Product Managers anticipate potential roadblocks and implement contingency plans to keep the project on track.

7. Customer-Centricity - Meeting Client Expectations:

In the "Mission: Impossible" movies, Ethan's focus is always on fulfilling the mission while ensuring the safety of civilians.

Similarly, Product Managers place customers at the core of their decisions

They seek to understand customer pain points, gather feedback, and iterate on the product to create a delightful experience that exceeds expectations

8. Communication - Seamless Coordination:

In this high paced octane series, communication is crucial in carrying out the mission. Ethan manages to keep his team in same page without losing minute details.

Product Managers know the importance of seamless coordination between team members, stakeholders, and customers. Clear and concise communication ensures that everyone involved is on the same page and contributes to the success of the product.

9. Perseverance - Never Giving Up:

In the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, Ethan Hunt never gives up.

Ethan goes against his team, his boss when they ask him to give up if the plan is bound to fail.

When everyone thinks that everything done and dusted , Ethan signals the glimmer of hope

Product Managers must also display unwavering perseverance. Building a successful product requires dedication, patience, and a willingness to learn from failures and bounce back stronger.

10. Celebrating Success - Mission Accomplished:

After a thrilling and arduous journey, Ethan Hunt revels in the success of his mission by giving credits to his team and pulls of the mission at last minute.

Similarly, Product Managers celebrate the launch of a well-received product, acknowledging the efforts of their team and the impact on customers.

However, their journey never truly ends as they continuously seek to improve and innovate, embracing new missions with enthusiasm.

Well, the life of PM rolls like a typical MI movie . Ignore the drama if few of them portrayed above are overhyped.

In the end - Remember, in the world of Product Management, the motto remains, "Your mission, should you choose to accept it..."

It's the persistence that matters most than being the smartest and being influential in achieving the Mission possible.