Transforming an Enterprise - Lean Startup Conference 2016

Transforming an Enterprise

Pearson Case Study

Sonja Kresojevic@sonjak18

Learn Build

Measure

Disruptive Environment

Most likely outcome

Pearson’s challenge

• Unbalancedportfolio,lot’sofduplication• Transitionfromprinttodigital• Bigbets• Verylittleinnovationordisruption=nogrowth• Slowspeedtomarket• Complexdecisionmaking• Customersinvolvedtoolate

AnnualPlans

BigBudgets

ComplexSystems

Five pillars of transformation

• Portfolioapproach• LeanProductLifecycle• Investmentgovernance• Bestpracticeandbehaviors• Organizationalculturechange

Pearson continuous transformation journey..

PLCworkinitiated

PLCv1.0launched

Incremental fundingagreedwithFinance

PLCCoachProgramlaunched

Firstearlyadopters

PLCglobaladoption

Portfoliotool

Activeportfoliomanagement

PLC Roadshowworkshopsandtraining

Firstviewoftheglobalportfolio

andExecendorsement

Producttaxonomy

v1.0

Disruption within..

Strong global community

Product Development redefined

Finance HR Legal ProductDevelopment Marketing Sales

Product Portfolio few years back..

Lean Product Lifecycle Framework

Idea

Explore

Validate

Grow

Sustain

Retire

RIGHTSIDE:Product-Marketfitwithaworkingbusinessmodel

Increasetransparencyofmatureinvestmentstoensurealignmenttostrategy

LEFTSIDE:Validateassumptionsandhypotheses

Reducestheriskofwastedinvestmentandallowsteamstopivottonewandbetterideas

Explore

Grow

Quarterly

Quarterly

Validate

Sustain

RetireIdea <£50ktoExplore

<£250kToValidate

Product Councils i.e. Investment boards

Core PLC Artifacts

ProductTeams usethetemplates tocollateandpresentevidence ateachstage.

Investmentdecision-makersuseandextendthescorecards togradetheevidence andmakego/no-go/pivotdecisions.

Selfstarters usePLCplaybookas“how-to”guidesprovidingsufficient informationtogetthemupandrunning.

Transparency at Scale

ProductData

ProductTrends(Actuals/Forecast)

PortfolioReporting

HistoricRecordofDecisions

Stage-Gatecriteria

$

PortfolioTool

Key lessons• Ensureleadershipsupport• Connecttobusinessoutcomesandshowimpact(everyonelovesgoodKPIs)• Don’tunderestimatepowerofdenial• Getfinanceonboard• Powerofdata

• Buildasmallcoreteamtodrivetransformation,usecommunityandTTCtoscale

• Thinkbig,startsmall• Learnthelanguage• Don’tunderestimatethescaleoftheeffort• Eatyourowndogfood

• Buildstrongcommunitiestodrivechangeandstaysane• It’samovement• Investinpeople• Rewardandincentivizerightbehaviors

Thank you!

[email protected]@sonjak18