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The Cranky PM on “Been There, Done That”

by The Cranky Product Manager on March 5, 2010

in Development

The following cartoon has been shamelessly republished from Shreyas Doshi’s excellent “How to Get that Next PM Job” presentation to the Silicon Valley Product Management Association.  Many years ago, during her first month at DysfunctoSoft, the Cranky Product Manager had this EXACT argument with the Engineering Manager for DysfunctoCrank:

Shreyas Doshi on Product Management

by Shreyas Doshi

It was years ago, but to this day the Cranky PM does not understand how that a-hole could take so LITTLE PRIDE  in his work that he would insist on shipping a product with the name misspelled.

At the time, the Cranky PM was shocked. But after years in the product management game, nothing surprises her anymore.

Rest assured, the Cranky PM won this battle.  The product was NOT renamed DysfucktoCrunk.

A little link love for Shreyas Doshi, for making the Cranky Product Manager chuckle just a little bit, through the tears of frustration:

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{ 4 comments }

Cranky Tweets for the Week Ending 2010-03-02

by The Cranky Product Manager on March 2, 2010

in The PM Profession

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{ 1 comment }

Cranky Tweets for the Week Ending 2010-02-23

February 23, 2010

Why does DysfunctoSoft have these post-release retrospectives when it NEVER takes action on any of the feedback? #prodmgmt #
Nice rvw of Steve Haines's Product manager Desktop Reference in March JPIM (Journal Prod Innovation Mgmt). #prodmgmt #
Everyone Cranky PM has met from IIT (India Inst Tech) has dropped the "I" bomb within a day of [...]

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A Prototype for the Worst Positioning Statement Ever

February 23, 2010

In the last post, the Cranky Product Manager mocked Crypto-Descriptions of companies and products.  Microsoft and Oracle were the targets of her crank-osity.  She’s sure you loved it, because after all, who doesn’t love a good public bashing of  Bill’s and Larry’s spawn?
Anyway, inspired by the ensuing discussion, the Cranky PM figured it might be [...]

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Cranky Tweets for the Week Ending 2010-02-16

February 16, 2010

Travaeling again… Every Embassy Suites has that same mildewy smell in the lobby/atrium. Gak. #
Stop whining, shut up & reg for P-Camp Silicon Valley, already! & vote for sessions too! http://tinyurl.com/ykxaok3 #prodmgmt #
Jr. PM, where do you think you are, at P&G? Do your own market research! With no budget! And no time! [...]

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Cranky Tweets for the Week Ending 2010-02-09

February 9, 2010

HOW could Star Trek not be up for Best Picture?!? INJUSTICE! #
Ugh, how embarassing. Meeting with a customer, knocked over my purse, and out tumbles Elmo underpants. #workingmom #
Argh. Product look/feel is being redesigned b/c CTO doesn't like colors! 2 weeks from release! From a man whose clothes never match! #
The Generic News Story [...]

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Call for Nominations: Worst Product & Company Descriptions

February 5, 2010

The Cranky Product Manager has decided to start a vendetta against the Marketing Cryptospeak that is so freakin’ common in the software industry.
You know… those meaningless, boilerplate-ish, hyper-generic, jargon-oozing, designed-by-committee, ridiculously cryptic descriptions of what a product (or company) supposedly does?
Those nonsense-filled sentences that leave  readers so confused about what type of product this actually [...]

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Cranky Tweets for the Week Ending 2010-02-02

February 2, 2010

GREAT. Another "stress ball" given as the wicked awesome giveaway at Sale Kickoff. Why does DysfunctoSoft waste $ on this crap? #prodmgmt #
Vegas, the Cranky Product Manager loves/hates you. Her hotel room 1/2 mile from where she must present the roadmap to da Droids. #Prodmgmt #
Product marketers: the most introverted extroverts you'll meet. Product managers: [...]

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Power Post #2: Hoarding Features & Products

January 22, 2010

(OK, another 5 minute Power Post.  An attempt to break through the procrastination and writer’s block that has been plaguing the author of this blog.)
The Cranky PM has recently become obsessed with the TV Show Hoarders.  If you are unfamiliar, it is a reality show that profiles people who hoard stuff — tons of worthless [...]

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Power Post: Quickie Observations on Life in the Software Industry

January 22, 2010

The Cranky Product Manager has been neglectful of this here blog, once again. Good thing she’s not being paid to do it or anything, or else she’d be so totally fired.
Anyway, to break through the Huge Writer’s Block that has been in her way for the last 7 weeks or so, the Cranky PM [...]

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