Escaping the Build Trap

How Effective Product Management Creates Real Value

By: Melissa Perri

Narrated by: Erin deWard

To stay competitive in today's market, organizations need to adopt a culture of customer-centric practices that focus on outcomes rather than outputs. Companies that live and die by outputs often fall into the "build trap", cranking out features to meet their schedule rather than the customer's needs.

In this book, Melissa Perri explains how laying the foundation for great product management can help companies solve real customer problems while achieving business goals. By understanding how to communicate and collaborate within a company structure, you can create a product culture that benefits both the business and the customer. You'll learn product management principles that can be applied to any organization, big or small.

In five parts, this book explores:

• Why organizations ship features rather than cultivate the value those features represent
• How to set up a product organization that scales
• How product strategy connects a company's vision and economic outcomes back to the product activities
• How to identify and pursue the right opportunities for producing value through an iterative product framework
• How to build a culture focused on successful outcomes over outputs

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Melissa Perri (P)2020 Tantor

How to be a product manager

Extremely tactical and practical overview of product t management. Recommend for anyone interested in the role, and for anyone who has to manage PMs.

Must-Read AND Must-Listen

Not only is this book a must-read for any Product Manager, but the captivating narration by Erin deWard is a must-listen.

There will be the inevitable comparisons to Marty Cagan’s “Inspired”, but for Product Managers I’d say “Escaping The Build Trap” beats out “Inspired”. Whereas Cagan’s book evangelizes companies, especially CEOs, to become product-led organizations, here Melissa Perri provides a framework with actionable steps for Product Managers and Product Leaders to actually make it happen.

Furthermore, the audiobook for “Inspired” was plagued with inconsistent narration; the listener can clearly hear where re-recorded sections were cut into the original mix, usually at a slightly slower narration pace or with a noticeably less enthusiastic tone, which I found highly distracting. In “Escaping The Build Trap”, Erin deWard’s narration is a highly engaging and a pleasure to listen to. She keeps her tone consistent throughout, and the sound mixing is exceptional—it almost sounds as if the book had been recorded in a seamless take. Bravo!

Best PM book I have read so far!

This book is simply amazing! A rare informtive book that summerizes the what to do and what to avoid in the PM career path in order to become the very best professional there is!

How to build a product without building too much.

This is a very good book on the principles of product development, emphasizing the importance of experimentation. It guides you on how to tackle product discovery while spotlighting the most common pitfalls. I found myself nodding along as the book described various bad practices; it seems I've encountered them all 😅.

Essential reading for any PM or product executive

Love the content, this book is brilliant! I'm going to come back to it later so I can really absorb the info.

Narration, though... It seemed like the narrator made every woman's voice sound quavering. That was annoying. I think she was trying to distinguish the male and female voices, but took it too far.

Focus on the Vision

Research based book filled with crucial nuggets to successful product management.
It clarifies what product manager’s responsibilities are.
The author did a great job explaining the importance of “focusing on the solid vision until your goal is accomplished.” Which in return sustain organization in the coming years.
Product Managers’ role in “knowing the product is the right thing to build” is essential!

Required reading for any software industry manager

Loved it, it has a lot of valuable information for anyone getting into PM, working with PMs or needing to understand what they do.

Great read and narration

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I utilized the narration while reading along with the paperback version. Although, Erin read at a slower pace than I normally would, she effectively articulated key points and kept me engaged as a reader/listener.

Odd narration practice

I am enjoying the content of this book and it seems to be valuable and on point. However the narrator’s practice of altering her voice to sound deeper and gruffer when quoting men is really distracting. Imagine if a male narrator put on a higher pitched voice to indicate he was quoting a woman…he’d be labelled sexist! It detracts from the quotes themselves.

Excellent blend of stories and techniques

I loved how Melissa explains what is the build trap, and gives great advices on how to escape it (it takes time and entire organization mindset change).
I especially enjoyed the wrapping "Marketly" story!