4 ms·

I would say 1 salesperson in 20 has the ability, interest and influence to alter a product roadmap. The other 19 exist because of their competitive drive and ab

I would say 1 salesperson in 20 has the ability, interest and influence to alter a product roadmap. The other 19 exist because of their competitive drive and ability to bang their head against a wall without losing enthusiasm.

polote 6y ago
In my experience 100% of salespeople will try to influence the product roadmap if it means they can sign a new deal
- mathattack 6y ago
  Yes. “What can I promise on the roadmap to close this deal?” is very different than “What is best for the roadmap?” You can’t trust a salesperson to think about the broader good when half their comp is tied to specific deals.
- ako 6y ago
  Usually any impact a salesperson has over the product roadmap is too slow to have any impact on the sales opportunity. Salespeople usually have more influence on the customers than on the roadmap, so they're better of trying to influence the decision making of the customer, than the product. Salespeople focus on their sales targets, trying to change a product roadmap is not a very effective way to reach short term targets. Obviously, a product manager should reach out to sales to try and understand their perspective on the product and the customer needs.
  - ryandrake 6y ago
    Depends on the company. I worked for a small company that was a real clown show. Sales would come down to the engineering area and say things like "I just closed a huuuuuuge sale for the company. We need a product that does A, B, and C, now so we can deliver it!" And, that became engineering's scope for the next 4 weeks...
    - mathattack 6y ago
      I’ve been at similar though 4 weeks would have been generous.
      - ryandrake 6y ago
        It would be 4 weeks because Sales told the customer that A, B, and C were already part of the product.
    - mongol 6y ago
      Yes small companies commonly works like this. Basically, they hustle sales and the development team needs to cover for them.
    - quadrifoliate 6y ago
      Hey, I also worked at this company! (and left after 6 months)

polote 6y ago

In my experience 100% of salespeople will try to influence the product roadmap if it means they can sign a new deal

mathattack 6y ago
Yes. “What can I promise on the roadmap to close this deal?” is very different than “What is best for the roadmap?” You can’t trust a salesperson to think about the broader good when half their comp is tied to specific deals.
ako 6y ago
Usually any impact a salesperson has over the product roadmap is too slow to have any impact on the sales opportunity. Salespeople usually have more influence on the customers than on the roadmap, so they're better of trying to influence the decision making of the customer, than the product. Salespeople focus on their sales targets, trying to change a product roadmap is not a very effective way to reach short term targets. Obviously, a product manager should reach out to sales to try and understand their perspective on the product and the customer needs.
- ryandrake 6y ago
  Depends on the company. I worked for a small company that was a real clown show. Sales would come down to the engineering area and say things like "I just closed a huuuuuuge sale for the company. We need a product that does A, B, and C, now so we can deliver it!" And, that became engineering's scope for the next 4 weeks...
  - mathattack 6y ago
    I’ve been at similar though 4 weeks would have been generous.
    - ryandrake 6y ago
      It would be 4 weeks because Sales told the customer that A, B, and C were already part of the product.
  - mongol 6y ago
    Yes small companies commonly works like this. Basically, they hustle sales and the development team needs to cover for them.
  - quadrifoliate 6y ago
    Hey, I also worked at this company! (and left after 6 months)