Articles

By Andrew Park | 2024-09-17 This morning, I had an insightful discussion with Gary Cohen about the metrics that dominate conversations in product development—flow, efficiency, and velocity. While these metrics can serve a purpose, we should be cautious about how much weight we give them. As product and engineering leaders, it’s our responsibility to ensure that we’re focused on outcomes, not just outputs, and that we preserve an environment where innovation can thrive alongsi

By Andrew Park | 2024-09-11 On August 30, I had the pleasure of interviewing Vilasini Neti, a seasoned Product Owner and Director at Freddie Mac with over 20 years of experience in product life cycle management. Vilasini has an impressive background in driving digital solutions across financial, educational, and healthcare industries, and she is a staunch advocate of Agile methodologies. Our conversation delved deep into the real-world application of Agile and Scrum, where sh

By Andrew Park | 2024-09-11 Gary Cohen is a seasoned software development leader and product development consultant with over 20 years of experience. As the Principal Consultant at Practical Agility LLC, Gary works with organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 10 companies to improve their agile practices and drive better outcomes for customers and employees. His leadership roles have spanned across major companies such as Assurance Software, Oracle, and Kenexa, where h

By Andrew Park | 2024-09-02 As a Chief Product Officer, Head of Product, VP of Product, CTO, Engineering VP, or Engineering Director, your focus is on aligning product and engineering teams with the broader business strategy. One critical area where alignment often falls short is in the role of Product Owners. Too often, Product Owners are reduced to “order takers,” executing tasks without contributing to the strategic direction of the product. This issue is particularly prev

By Andrew Park | 2024-09-02 Daily Scrum meetings, or daily stand-ups, were intended to be a cornerstone of Agile, fostering communication, identifying roadblocks, and ensuring team alignment. However, the reality in many companies often falls short, creating a significant gap between these intended benefits and what teams actually experience. To improve the effectiveness of daily Scrums, it’s essential to understand where these meetings commonly fall short and how to address

By Andrew Park | 2024-08-29 In today’s automotive landscape, the conversation is no longer just about horsepower, torque, or sleek design. It’s about software. Ford’s bold initiative to become a leader in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) is a prime example of how even century-old automakers are embracing this shift. As engineering leaders—whether you’re a VP, CTO, or Director—the imperative to transition from traditional automotive manufacturing to a software-centric approach

By Andrew Park | 2024-08-27 The role of software in modern vehicles has never been more prominent—or more consequential. From managing essential systems like braking and steering to enabling sophisticated autonomous driving features, software is now at the heart of vehicle functionality. While these advancements bring unprecedented convenience and innovation, they also introduce a significant risk: the potential for catastrophic failure. Automotive software must meet an extra

By Andrew Park | 2024-08-27 The Agile Testing Pyramid has been a cornerstone for software teams utilizing Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) systems, with its foundation on unit tests, followed by component and integration tests, and a smaller focus on end-to-end tests. This model aligns well with the speed-driven nature of Agile and DevOps, facilitating faster software iterations and deployments. However, its limitations become starkly evident in high-c