Max Antonov - product management & leadership

Jun 28, 2023

A Story About a Product Manager, Prioritisation, and the SCQA Framework

Let's dive into the mind of a product manager as they tackle the daunting task of prioritising a product roadmap using the SCQA framework. Picture this: you're in the shoes of a savvy product manager named Alex, and you're about to embark on a prioritisation journey. Buckle up!

So, Alex starts by taking a step back and embracing the essence of the SCQA framework: Situation, Complication, Question, and Answer. They know that this framework will serve as their compass, guiding them through the vast landscape of product features and customer needs.

First up, the Situation. Alex immerses themselves in the current state of the product, analysing market trends, customer feedback, and the competitive landscape. They carefully scrutinise the existing roadmap to identify any gaps or opportunities for improvement. Armed with this knowledge, they're ready to face the complications head-on.

Complications arise when Alex discovers conflicting priorities, limited resources, and varying stakeholder perspectives. The roadmap becomes a puzzle with numerous pieces competing for attention. But fear not! Alex knows that the SCQA framework is their beacon of clarity.

Now, the Question phase kicks in. Alex starts by posing crucial questions: What are the pressing needs of our customers? Which features align with our business objectives? How do we optimise resource allocation? They gather insights from cross-functional teams, customer interviews, and data analysis to dig deeper and unearth golden nuggets of information.

With questions laid bare, it's time for the Answer phase. Alex synthesises the collected wisdom, identifying the high-impact features that address customer pain points and align with strategic goals. They evaluate the potential value, feasibility, and effort required for each feature, carefully weighing the pros and cons.

But wait, the journey doesn't end there! Alex knows that adaptability is key in the ever-evolving product landscape. They continuously iterate on the roadmap, tweaking priorities based on user feedback, market shifts, and emerging opportunities. The SCQA framework serves as their trusted compass, providing a structured approach to revisiting and refining the roadmap.

About Max Antonov
Head of Product @ Backpocket and a Product Coach. I write about product management and random topics that are on my mind. You can find me on Twitter, Substack, LinkedIn or Goodreads