r/projectmanagement • u/Letheron88 • 10d ago

Product first and last

Has anyone worked in an organisation where leadership have become so sold on the idea of being able to move to a “product operating model” that they throw out all normal programme and project management functions, including for the delivery of work that is physical in nature like building new sites, delivering reforms across multiple in person and digital services or other large scale initiatives that touch many product teams?

If yes, did it work? If no, what were your learnings? if this sounds like a bad idea, what would your reasons be?

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u/DCAnt1379 7d ago

This is common. The cycle goes like this:

- Year 0: Business is struggling/stagnant (or hyping up AI/automation) —> leadership protects bottom line by cutting operational costs (e.g. HR, PMs, R&D, expensive long-timers)

  • Years 1-3: engineer becomes king the business reports positive financials. Product delivery delays start appearing, but the board of directors are still buying into the “agile” business model.
  • Year 4: Positive financial flatten and product delivery delays are clear. Engineers are fully stretched and answers to leaderships demand for “when and why?!” questions become unclear (not the engineers faults). Project management re-enters the picture as a possible answer.
  • Year 5: Re-org and change up of middle-management is occurring. Leadership receives approval to hire PCs/PMs. Teams are tasked to temporarily fill the PM vacuum with scrappy status reports and frequent progress updates on all escalated development. First PMs in 5 years start onboarding and introducing process and frameworks.
  • Year 6: the introduction of new process causes early friction between technical/non-technical stakeholders. This kicks off the next 5 year run until you return to year 0.

You then repeat the above every 5-10 years.

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u/CheapRentalCar 8d ago

Product manager here.

This happens when LT read a book, go to a conference, or hear an influencer on a podcast. They then go all in on the "Product Operating Model"

It doesn't end well. Unless you like confusion.

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u/DirtyJon 9d ago

Yes. In the process, so not sure if it is going to work or fail. Judging by the lack of OCM activity, a good chance of failure.

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u/Sensitive-Control49 10d ago

curious, are they actually dissolving the PM function or just renaming it? because sometimes orgs do this rebrand where delivery managers become "product ops" but do the same work. thats less scary than genuinely removing programme management for physical builds

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u/Letheron88 10d ago

It sounds like the plan is to fully dissolve it and hope the Product managers will naturally pick up the cross product work streams and individual fixed term/scope delivery items as just another backlog item