As Product Owner, the Important Word Is 'Owner'

Mark Mullaly is president of Interthink Consulting Incorporated, an organizational development and change firm specializing in the creation of effective organizational project management solutions. Since 1990, it has worked with companies throughout North America to develop, enhance and implement effective project management tools, processes, structures and capabilities. Mark was most recently co-lead investigator of the Value of Project Management research project sponsored by PMI. You can read more of his writing at markmullaly.com.

  Product Management  

The role of “product owner” is unique. I’m not sure—in a career that spans decades—that I have found its equal. Like project management, it is a role that was not on my radar. Until it found me.

Like project management, once it did find me, there was an incredibly steep learning curve.

Even more than project management, once product ownership asserted its place in my life, my overall reaction was, “I was made for this.”

This, phrased differently, is recognition of the fact that all of the multi-faceted aspects of my upbringing, education, career trajectory and infinitely varied responsibilities and accountabilities have uniquely shaped me into a place where I can perform the role very, very well.

For the last two years, I’ve been involved in a strategic enterprise initiative that has had me step into the role of product owner for an extended period. In that period, the team I work with has delivered amazing results. Expectations have been met, promises have been kept, commitments have been honored and deadlines have been hit with remarkable precision. I am proud of every single one of those statements.

In delivering on that, I can’t say that our success comes down entirely to my role. What I can say is that my role—and my approach to the role—has absolutely played a part. What has anchored my …

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