Managing programs for hardware companies is tough, so in this episode, we bring in a seasoned professional to help. We're joined by Mike Marrs, a program manager at Watkins Wellness and formerly Hewlett-Packard, to talk about his experience taking new products from concept to market.
During our conversation, Mike shares his experiences and strategies in navigating the complexities of cross-functional teamwork and effective communication. Delving into the differences between beta testing at HP and Watkins Wellness, this episode offers a unique glimpse into the art of incorporating customer feedback and beta testing in product development regardless of your company size.
In This Episode:
(00:00) - Intro
(01:22) - Mike's role at Watkins Wellness
(03:44) - Handling communication between teams in a hybrid work environment
(09:05) - Deliverables to keep team members and stakeholders up to date
(11:51) - Status updates in a stage gate environment
(16:25) - When do stakeholders get to see working and testable hardware?
(20:36) - New Product Introductions at Hewlett-Packard
(29:20) - Collecting feedback from vendors and dealers
(32:42) - Recruiting beta users to test a wide variety of devices
(37:16) - Getting the product outside of the lab and into the wild
(44:53) - Using dogfooding to breakdown internal silos
(50:08) - Remember past beta programs and an unsolicited Centercode endorsement
(59:24) - Mike's advice to his younger self
About Our Guest:
Mike Marrs has over 20 years of experience in quality and program management. He led the HP Consumer Print Beta program, working with hardware, software, and mobile apps. Now, he's a Senior Program Manager at Watkins Wellness, focusing on launching new products. Mike's career showcases his knack for handling tech projects and bringing new ideas to life.
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Download the transcript here.
