Greetings fellow product managers! Today, I aim to shed light on a topic that’s increasingly relevant in fast-paced tech environments: the changing role of a product manager in teams practicing Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD).
Having navigated multiple product journeys, some of which were turbocharged by CI/CD practices, I’ve gathered insights that reveal how our role must adapt in these settings. Prepare yourself for an in-depth journey through the intersection of product management and CI/CD.
Exploring Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment
Before discussing the impact on the role of a product manager, we should clarify what CI/CD entails. Continuous Integration is the practice of automating the integration of code changes, whereas Continuous Deployment ensures that every change goes through the pipeline and is automatically deployed to production.
This means that, in contrast to traditional environments, product changes in CI/CD settings are smaller but more frequent, with a higher level of automation in testing and deployment.
The Shift in Strategy and Planning
In one of my former roles, transitioning to a CI/CD model demanded a shift from large, quarterly releases to smaller, iterative updates. The traditional roadmap filled with big launches became obsolete overnight.
Learning: Product managers in CI/CD environments must excel in adaptive planning techniques and become comfortable with shorter, more frequent release cycles. Rather than setting in stone long-term plans, PMs must keep their eyes on immediate user feedback and performance data to guide the product’s direction.
Emphasizing Quality and Robustness
In my initial stint with a CI/CD team, I underestimated the importance of robustness in our product features. The accelerated deployment rate led to a critical issue slipping through, affecting several users in a short time frame before we could react.
Learning: The continuous nature of CI/CD magnifies the impact of any oversight. Product managers need to be champions of quality assurance, insisting on comprehensive automated tests and being prepared for rapid issue resolution.
Stakeholder Communication: Evolving the Narrative
Communicating with stakeholders in a CI/CD environment posed a unique challenge. They were accustomed to landmark releases that were easy to understand and celebrate. I learned that in a CI/CD environment, stakeholders required frequent updates and education on the benefits of continuous iteration.
Learning: As a product manager, you must redefine stakeholder communication. Tear down the ‘big launch’ mindset and advocate for the value of incremental delivery, while managing expectations for the new pace of change.
User Engagement and Feedback Loops
With the ability to push changes rapidly, feedback loops became more critical than ever. One project, in particular, stood out to me—the rate of feature releases outpaced the gathering of user insights, which led to a misalignment with user needs.
Learning: A PM in a CI/CD environment must establish efficient feedback mechanisms and be proactive in leveraging real-time analytics to ensure that the product remains user-centered and data-driven in its evolution.
Redefining the Product Manager-Developer Relationship
The transition to CI/CD often changes the dynamics between product managers and developers. Once, I found myself in prolonged debates over feature prioritization with our development teams accustomed to the CI/CD cadence. This highlighted the need for a different approach to collaboration.
Learning: Collaborate closely with your development team to align on priorities and understand the constraints and opportunities provided by CI/CD. Strive for a balanced perspective between delivering value and maintaining technical excellence.
Conclusion
The move to a CI/CD framework fundamentally alters the product management landscape. The role shifts from meticulous long-term planners to agile navigators of technology and market shifts. As product managers, we are called upon to redefine collaboration, planning, and communication, and to serve as steadfast guardians of product quality. It’s not without its challenges, but it’s an exhilarating ride that, in my experience, leads to product outcomes that are in better harmony with user needs and business objectives.
Embracing the CI/CD model is a thrilling journey, and while it calls for a fresh set of strategies and tactics, it’s a game-changer in our role as product maestros. Until we meet again on this digital exchange of wisdom, let’s continue steering our products with agility and precision!