On not using product and design to solve organizational problems
This a terrible pattern. Product is paid to solve business problems.

Go after segments, drive research, develop solutions that generate revenue or at least, product market fit.

In many companies though, a lack of proper org structure (hierarchies, roles, team management etc.) result in severe communication problems.

These communication problems manifest, seemingly, as product problems(one could and should argue a PM’s job is to prevent this, but this isn’t a regular comms problem, this is an outcome of situations mandated by a CxO). An example of this is ‘exec meetings’ that a CFO or CRO or CPO might call for with a ‘limited group’ of people where broad strategic ‘decisions’ are made and roadmaps are implicitly set. Well, since Engineering or Research aren’t a part of these (since they are small groups at early stages) this naturally results in a complete 0-buy-in situation. This is a terrible pattern , and one all too easy even with (especially with?) the ‘right intentions’

A business problem -> org problem -> comms problem -> product problem -> design problem. This will stress your teams to no end.

Worse, they’ll not have a place to surface this (few can write to their CEO and say ‘enough’ — I have, but then, I took a risk and it paid off)

When in reality, a business problem -> product and thats it. This is how the best companies work.

Take this to heart. Having experienced this often and frequently enough, I can say this is a real productivity killer. And a silent one.

So why single out ‘BigCo’ VPs? Generally they tend to bring this pattern from their large Co experience and retro fit to startups. It does not work. Startups need way more agility and responsiveness to market trends than large companies do where delicate power structures are perhaps more front and center.

Building companies is hard, because building teams that function at scale is hard. Don’t make it harder, avoid this ‘unforced error’ else it’ll turn into a self goal.
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['Organizational Culture', 'Management', 'Technology', 'Business']