Introduction: What You’ll Learn
This simulation helps you navigate stakeholder requests that could lead to long-term technical debt. You'll practice maintaining strong relationships while advocating for sustainable product development.
You’ll practice:
- Explaining the impact of technical debt
- Suggesting practical alternative solutions
- Balancing immediate needs with long-term goals
- Keeping stakeholder relationships positive
Step-by-Step Simulation
Scene 1: The Quick Fix Request
Product Manager: "Hey everyone, thanks for hopping on. The marketing team needs a quick update to the user profile for an upcoming campaign."
Developer: "Sure, what exactly are they asking for?"
Product Manager: "They want to add a field for user testimonials. They think it’s a quick job."
Developer: "Adding a field might sound easy, but it means database changes, backend updates, and UI tweaks. If we rush, we might end up with tech debt."
Scene 2: Communicating Impact
Developer: "Doing this quickly could mess with our data model and slow things down. We’d have to be careful about performance and maintenance."
Product Manager: "Makes sense. What are our options to handle this smartly?"
Scene 3: Suggesting Alternatives
Developer: "How about a temporary fix, like adding a survey link in the user profile? We can get testimonials without touching the core system for now."
Product Manager: "That’s a good workaround. How soon can we have it ready?"
Developer: "Pretty quick — a couple of days. It gives us breathing room to plan the permanent change after the campaign."
Scene 4: Aligning on a Strategy
Product Manager: "I’ll share this option with marketing. It meets their needs without risking our system."
Developer: "Perfect. Let’s set up a follow-up to figure out the best way to add the field once the campaign’s done."
Product Manager: "Sounds good. I’ll schedule something post-campaign."
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1: The stakeholder insists the change is urgent and necessary.
- Best Response: “I get it’s urgent, but we need to think about the long-term effects. Let’s go with this temp fix while we plan something more solid.”
Challenge 2: The team is divided on prioritizing this change.
- Best Response: “Let’s weigh the pros and cons together, keeping both short-term and long-term impacts in mind.”
Challenge 3: Stakeholders question the technical concerns raised.
- Best Response: “Let me break down the technical challenges. It’s important we all understand them to make a better decision.”
Optional Curveball Mode
- Stakeholder requests a quick fix during a critical release cycle.
- The team is under pressure to deliver multiple features simultaneously.
- A new stakeholder questions the team's technical decisions mid-meeting.
Practice handling each situation without compromising the product’s long-term health.
Reflection Checklist
Stakeholder Communication
- Did I explain the technical implications clearly and respectfully?
- Did I offer practical alternatives that meet business needs?
Strategic Alignment
- Did I ensure our decision aligns with long-term goals?
- Was I able to balance immediate needs with sustainable practices?
Team Dynamics
- Did I facilitate a collaborative discussion?
- Did I encourage solutions that consider both technical and business perspectives?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Agreeing to changes without assessing technical debt
- Failing to communicate risks clearly to stakeholders
- Ignoring stakeholder urgency without proposing alternatives
- Overlooking the importance of aligning with long-term strategy