It Takes a Village to Ship Hardware
Hardware has a way of humbling even the most experienced engineers. Getting a product from idea to shelf takes far more than a great design. It takes an ecosystem working together.
From Slipping Schedules to Successful Launches: The TPM Advantage
On a clear walk along West Cliff in Santa Cruz, I found myself reflecting on a role that is often misunderstood in high-tech hardware product development: The TECHNICAL PROGRAM MANAGER (TPM). Too often, TPMs are viewed as administrative coordinators who track schedules, update Gantt charts, and manage checklists. But in high-performing organizations, a seasoned TPM is something entirely different…
The Salt and the Feedback Loop
The tide was pulling back from Natural Bridges today, exposing slick kelp and the sharp geometry of barnacles. Walking West Cliff with Michael, we watched anemones retract at the slightest touch—a simple loop of stimulus, action, consequence refined over millions of years. It struck us that while we often discuss Behavior Design as a modern concept, we’re really just codifying what the [...]
Not All MVPs Are Equal, Nor Should They Be
What does minimum viable REALLY mean, and how minimum is too minimum? Most people think of an MVP as a minimum functional version of a product that’s good enough to test market demand, usability, or competitive positioning. But in regulated industries like medical devices, where product lifecycles can stretch 7 to 15 years, there is another MVP that matters just as much.
From Soil to Soul: Digging into the Future of Hardware
On a beautiful walk along West Cliff, Hardy and I explored an unexpected but powerful parallel: what healthy soil ecosystems can teach us about the future of hardware, design, and technology. Along the way, one theme kept surfacing.
In a Rapidly Changing Global Supply Chain, the Fundamentals Still Matter
As John and I walked a sunny West Cliff Drive, one theme kept surfacing from his depth of experience working with global manufacturing partners: even as technology accelerates, the core principles of building resilient supply chains remain largely unchanged.
Global Supply Chains in Transition
With the increasing uncertainties with global supply chains, it was a pleasure to reconnect with my friend (and PRG Partner) Sandeep Duggal, the CEO of Extron Inc. and global supply chain expert, for a walk on West Cliff Drive to reflect on how global supply chains continue to evolve amid a series of natural, geopolitical, and economic disruptions, from pandemics and floods to shifting [...]
