Blackblot PMTK and Basecamp Shape Up
Introduction
This review explores the compatibility of the Blackblot Product Manager's Toolkit® (PMTK), a market-driven product management methodology, with Basecamp's Shape Up, a product development method.
Shape Up Background
Basecamp is an American software company that provides a web-based project management and team communication application by the same name.
Shape Up is Basecamp's self-developed internal approach to product development.
According to Jason Fried, Basecamp's founder, Shape Up was developed in isolation over nearly fifteen years of constant trial and error.
Shape Up is touted as very efficient, allowing fast delivery of high-quality output with a small team. Apparently, it works very well for Basecamp.
There is online feedback that people enjoy working with Shape Up.
Shape Up's Character
Shape Up is a product development method applied to software development, with solid novel project management undertones.
Shape Up is not a lightweight or heavyweight software development variant. Shape Up is an original and unconventional approach to building products.
There are no hints or elements of traits or jargon used in contemporary software product development methods in Shape Up.
No sticky pads, tickets, sprints, product backlogs, stories, boards, stand-up meetings, artifacts, agile lingo, Jira, etc.'. None of these.
At its core, Shape Up describes processes, tasks, and techniques product development teams use to design solutions, prioritize work, and manage product development.
Shape Up has a self-developed terminology of somewhat uniquely named terms, allowing consistent and unambiguous internal communication between team members and executives.
The Shape Up glossary clarifies the different original terms used in Shape Up.
Interestingly, Shape Up can be implemented using the Basecamp application.
Shape Up Book
Ryan Singer is the author of the Shape Up: Stop Running in Circles and Ship Work that Matters book (Published 2019, 176 pages).
Mr. Singer has worked at Basecamp for eighteen years in various roles, the last position being Head of Product Strategy, essentially the company's Chief Product Officer (CPO).
In the Shape Up book, Mr. Singer describes Shape Up's concepts which include a six-week work cycle, risk reduction, work prioritization, value exploration, solution design, autonomy, and team responsibilities.
The Shape Up method and Shape Up book are highly readable and straightforward.
Same Cardinal Principle
The second Blackblot PMTK Methodology™ foundation rule states:
- PMTK Rule #2 — Product management resides solely in the problem space.
Conclusions can be drawn by further developing this PMTK foundation rule.
The problem and solution spaces designate the separation between product management and product development.
An efficient communication and collaboration interface between the two domains, without encroachment or overlap, is implemented.
Surprisingly, PMTK and Shape Up authors arrived at these similar conclusions that specify product management and product development separation and interaction.
PMTK's authors had arrived at these conclusions by conceiving a product management theory and accompanying methodology.
Shape Up authors had arrived at these conclusions by formulating a method for product development.
For example, Shape Up terminology uses "demand-side" to refer to what matters to customers and "supply-side" to what product or features the company produces.
So while PMTK describes Agile/Scrum as in the solution space, Shape Up in a matching fashion regards itself and Agile/Scrum as completely supply-side.
Shaping and Product Definition
Shaping is a significant concept in Shape Up, and it represents the early work done before a project is created.
Shaping outlines the key elements of a solution and the most important boundaries of the work.
The Shaping activity in Shape Up is comparable to the Product Definition activity in PMTK.
The Shaping activity in Shape Up is performed by a single individual or a small team. In PMTK, this activity is performed by the Product Architect role.
According to Mr. Singer, the Shaping activity links the problem space with the solution space. Just like Product Definition in PMTK.
Shape Up and PMTK Compatibility
Shape Up adheres to a clear separation between the problem space (product management) and the solution space (product development).
Shape Up does not attempt to control or define product management or the product manager role.
Shape Up does not present any claim that compromises product management, as defined in the Blackblot PMTK Methodology™.
Consequently, PMTK and Shape Up are compatible.
Summary
While there are some operational details to cover, PMTK and Shape Up compatibility are examples of everything falling into place when you work according to sound principles.
A PMTK and Shape Up combination offers best practices in product management and product development and a proper interface between product management and product development without conflict or overlap.