Evolving Towards Resourceful Generalists in Product Organizations

Introduction

• Speaker: John Garvey from Uber.
• Main Thesis: Hyperspecialization in product teams is outdated; the future belongs to generalists.
• Presentation Theme: Illustrated through comic books and Pokemon.

Four Poke Forces in Product Organizations

1. Human-Centered Cultures: Driven by Design Thinking.
   • Design thinking now mainstream across all business contexts.
   • New generation of business executives are versed in human-centered approaches.
2. Powerful Playbooks: Key insights methodologies packaged into books.
   • Examples: “Continuous Discovery Habits” by Teresa Torres.
   • Such playbooks are widely adopted across roles, impacting job structures.
3. Evolving Tools: New research and insights tools emerging rapidly.
   • Tools are more powerful and user-friendly, often incorporating AI.
   • Empower users outside of insights, reducing reliance on specialized roles.
4. Merging Duties: Leaner organizations absorb duties from role eliminations.
   • Tightened investment conditions and increased productivity demands.
   • Smaller teams achieving high efficiency (e.g., Mid Journey's small team).

Impact of the Four Forces

• Create “Resourceful Generalists”: Adaptable, multi-skilled professionals thrive in reduced, more efficient work environments.

Adaptation for Insights Professionals

• Acknowledgement: Recognize the need for hyperrealism.
  • Emphasis on truth and practical reality for good outcomes.
• Support: Enable resourceful generalists by building frameworks and programs.
  • Example: Uber’s Matrix Model based on uncertainty and business risk.
• Become Resourceful Generalists: Expand role capabilities across traditional boundaries.
  • Move fluidly across different stages of the product lifecycle.
  • Learn multiple roles and focus on adaptability.

Insights from Experience

• Personal Story: Garvey’s experience with layoffs and reemployment at Uber.
  • Insight into organizational changes due to layoffs and team restructuring.
• Industry Changes: Larger wave of layoffs and restructuring in tech industry during 2022-2023.
  • Raised existential questions within the UX and Insights community.

Practical Steps to Adapt

1. Root in Hyperrealism: Accept and understand new realities within the profession and industry.
2. Support Generalists: Design frameworks that facilitate, rather than block, resourceful generalists.
3. Become Generalists: Gain skills to work across roles, lifelong learning, and versatility.
   • Example: Transitioning from UX research management to UX design.

Future Landscape

• Expectation: Rise of resourceful generalists in every organization.
• Action: Embrace the four forces (Human-Centered Cultures, Powerful Playbooks, Evolving Tools, Merging Duties) by becoming resourceful generalists.

Q&A Highlights

• T-Shaped vs. Resourceful Generalists: Resourceful generalists share traits with T-shaped individuals but are more influenced by the four forces enabling broader capabilities.
• Emerging Job Roles: AI companies and others seeking adaptable, multi-skilled professionals.

Conclusion

• Acknowledge, support, and become resourceful generalists to thrive in evolving product organizations.