More to read
High WIP - The Sneaky Saboteur in Your Business
Picture this: your business is bustling with activity, projects are flying left and right, and everyone is knee-deep in work. Sounds like a recipe for success, right? Wrong. In the world of product management, there’s a silent saboteur lurking in the shadows, and its name is high WIP (work-in-progress).
Now, you might be thinking, “What’s the big deal? Isn’t it good to have a lot going on?” Well, not really. High WIP isn’t just your run-of-the-mill nuisance; it’s a double-edged sword that wreaks havoc on your business in two major ways:
The customer crusher
A high WIP mindset serves your customers subpar outcomes on a silver platter. Whether it’s delayed projects, shoddy workmanship, or just a general lack of oomph, high WIP leaves your customers feeling more disappointed than a kid who got socks for Christmas.
The employee pain train
All aboard the stress express! High WIP doesn’t just take a toll on your customers; it also throws your employees under the bus. With stress levels skyrocketing and engagement plummeting faster than a lead balloon, it’s no wonder your team starts looking for the nearest emergency exit. But here’s the kicker—fixing high WIP isn’t as easy as slapping a Band-Aid on a paper cut. Oh no, my friend, it’s a beast with many heads, and chopping them off ain’t no walk in the park.
What exactly is high WIP?
Imagine a conveyor belt moving at full speed, piled high with half-finished projects, tasks, and initiatives. Each item represents a piece of work that’s in progress but not yet completed—that’s WIP. When that conveyor belt gets jam-packed, overflowing with more work than it can handle, that’s when WIP reaches dangerous levels—that’s high WIP.
The symptoms of high WIP are like warning signs on the road to business disaster. Projects drag on longer than anticipated, deadlines become mere suggestions, and quality takes a nosedive faster than a skydiver without a parachute. Employees find themselves stretched thin, while stress levels skyrocket to unprecedented heights.
Symptoms of high WIP
High WIP is very often a symptom of a deeper issue lurking beneath the surface. Think lack of focus, a strategy as clear as mud, an allergy to saying “no”, or a culture that’s all sunshine and rainbows, even when the sky is falling. Root causes of high WIP can include:
- Lack of Focus: When priorities are as clear as mud, and everyone is chasing after the shiniest object in the room, it’s easy for WIP to spiral out of control.
- Unclear or Missing Strategy: Without a roadmap to guide them, teams wander aimlessly, unsure of where they’re going or why they’re going there, leading to a mountain of unfinished tasks.
- Inability to Say ‘No’: A chronic fear of missing out (FOMO) leads to a dangerous game of “yes” to everything, resulting in an overwhelming workload and a backlog that would make Santa’s naughty list blush.
- Yes/Good News Only Culture: When bad news is swept under the rug faster than you can say “cover-up,” problems fester in the dark, unchecked and unaddressed.
- Lack of Transparency: When communication breaks down, misunderstandings abound, and chaos reigns supreme, paving the way for high WIP to take center stage.
Despite the clear signs that high WIP is a recipe for disaster, why do so many companies still cling to the belief that being super busy means being super successful? In a world where productivity is worshipped like a golden calf, being busy has become a badge of honor. But here’s the harsh truth: being busy doesn’t equal being productive. In fact, it’s often the exact opposite.
High WIP is like trying to sprint a marathon–sure, you might start off strong, but eventually, you’ll burn out. It’s a vicious cycle of overcommitting and underdelivering, and wondering where it all went wrong.
Fixing high WIP in your business
So, what’s a savvy product manager like yourself to do? Well, it’s time to roll up those sleeves and get down to business. Whether it’s sharpening your focus, clarifying your strategy, or just learning to say “no”, tackling high WIP head-on is the first step toward a healthier, happier business.
Prioritize with purpose
First things first, it’s time to sharpen your focus and hone in on what truly matters. Take a long, hard look at your project list and ask yourself, “Does this align with our strategic goals? Is it essential for our success?” If the answer is anything less than a resounding “yes,” it’s time to bid that project farewell and free up valuable resources for the ones that truly matter. But if you lack clear and tangible strategic goals, fix these first!
Clarify Your strategy
A clear strategy is like a North Star guiding you through the stormy seas of business. Take the time to define your goals, objectives, and key initiatives, and communicate them clearly to your team. When everyone is marching to the beat of the same drum, it’s easier to keep high WIP at bay and stay on course.
Learn to say “no”
Ah, the dreaded word. For many of us, saying “no” feels like admitting defeat, like waving the white flag of surrender. But here’s the thing–saying “no” isn’t about admitting defeat; it’s about setting boundaries and protecting your time and resources. Learn to say “no” to projects and requests that don’t align with your priorities or strategic goals. It’s not about being rude or dismissive; it’s about being strategic and intentional with your resources.
Embrace agile practices
Of course, most of you already apply “agile” principles, don’t you? But let’s be honest, running lean and agile doesn’t just mean breaking down projects into 2-week sprints. While sprint planning, stand-up meetings, and retrospectives are essential components, true agility goes beyond the rituals.
It’s about fostering a mindset of adaptability, collaboration, and continuous improvement throughout your organization. It’s about embracing change, responding to feedback, and delivering value to your customers early and often. Agile isn’t just a set of practices; it’s a way of thinking and working that empowers teams to thrive in an ever-changing landscape.
Foster a culture of transparency
Transparency is the antidote to chaos. Create an environment where open communication is encouraged, feedback is welcomed, and everyone has visibility into the status of projects and initiatives. When everyone is on the same page, it’s easier to identify bottlenecks, address issues, and keep WIP in check.
Implement WIP limits in your product development lifecycle
WIP limits are like guardrails on a treacherous mountain road–they keep you from veering off course and plunging into the abyss below. Set limits on the number of projects or tasks that can be in progress at any given time and any given stage of your product development lifecycle, and stick to them religiously. This helps prevent overload, reduce multitasking, and keep your team focused on what truly matters.
Iterate and experiment
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment and iterate on your processes. What works for one team or project may not work for another, so be willing to adapt and evolve as needed. Test out new approaches, gather feedback, and refine your methods until you find what works best for your team and your organization.
In the end, tackling high WIP isn’t about working harder; it’s about working smarter. By prioritizing with purpose, clarifying your strategy, learning to say “no,” embracing Agile practices, fostering transparency, implementing WIP limits, and iterating on your processes, you can defeat high WIP in your organization and set the path for fast value delivery and a baseline for success.