How do you create a product culture in a team that's historically been execution-focused?
Model answer
Model answerExecution-focused teams have often been rewarded for shipping, not for learning. Changing that culture means changing what gets celebrated. I'd start small: introduce a 'learning review' after every major launch — not a post-mortem but a standard practice. Celebrate teams that discovered their hypothesis was wrong, because that's learning. Over time, I'd hire for curiosity and make discovery work visible in planning cycles.
Framework · Culture Change
- CChange what's celebrated
Culture follows incentives. Start celebrating learning, not just shipping - LLearning reviews
After every launch: what did we learn? Not what went wrong — what did we learn? - HHire for curiosity
Over time, bring in people who ask 'why' as much as 'how' - DMake discovery visible
Discovery work must appear in sprint planning and roadmaps — or it won't happen
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