Why product teams should plan together — and how we do it at Swarmia

Effective planning distinguishes exceptional product teams by enabling them to release products incrementally, maintain high quality, and align with business objectives. Although planning may seem time-consuming, it is crucial for understanding what and why a team is building a product, especially amid uncertainties. The blog post advocates for collaborative planning, emphasizing that shared understanding and minimizing handovers enhance problem-solving and reduce completion times. Swarmia's team, comprising developers, a product designer, and a manager, employs Kanban for its flexibility, focusing on high-priority tasks and addressing bugs before new developments. Planning involves product discovery, team meetings, and breaking down work into manageable tasks. The process includes evaluating risks, discussing solutions, and ensuring the team comprehends the project’s goals and requirements. Continuous improvement and learning are encouraged through feedback loops and retrospectives, with Swarmia using data to refine planning accuracy.