Metrics aren't projects

What's the relationship between shaping projects and targeting specific metrics for the business? Chris offers a way of thinking of metric goals (like number of signups or usage of a particular feature) as a filter for potential bets. This leads to a discussion about the betting table, who makes the trade-offs about what to do next, and how research into the demand side plays into the shaping and betting process.

You've probably been in a "slapdash" planning meeting — too many people, shallow preparation, not enough time, with too many unanswered questions spiraling out. You have to make a decision but nobody feels good about it. We contrast that with having separate shaping, de-risking, and betting meetings. Shaping sessions are small, private, and intensely collaborative. In the de-risking rooms, technical people give input to the concept so you have better answers to the hard questions later. Chris tells before/after stories that show how different it is to bet on a project after doing the right kind of pre-work.

See the YouTube version with live sketching here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCZ7cM_4_og

YouTube version with live sketching here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMIZqim8iXU