Scene: War Room. 2 days until Code Freeze. LEAD DEVELOPER: So, unfortunately, we’re going to have to pull FavoriteFeature out of the release in order to meet the schedule. THE CRANKY PRODUCT MANAGER: Huh? That feature’s been in the product for 3 releases now. Customers love it. Why do we have to pull it? LEAD DEVELOPER: Well, we had to refactor the code, but unfortunately we just don’t have the time to write unit tests. ...

The Cranky Product Manager flew many miles, suffering through innumerable connections, delays, malnourishing food, and indignities heaped upon her by TSA officials. All to interview this fantastic new customer that just spent a huge wad of cash to buy DysfunctoCrank. Even better, this new customer represented a new and potentially very lucrative market segment. With a bit of product work, perhaps DysfunctoSoft could make Big New Customer blissfully happy plus have legions of new prospects ...

Hey you! Look over there —-> You will notice there is a fantastically red and circular badge-thingy over there on the right, emblazoned with the name “Alltop.” YES, the Alltop Gods on Mount Olympus — of which the hunky Guy Kawasaki is the numero uno Big God (and YES, the Cranky Product Manager does think Guy is hot) — have created a Product Management category. And OH MY GOD they’ve listed the Cranky Product Manager ...

The Cranky Product Manager is on vacation, but in her stead the CPM found a WICKED AWESOME guest blogger, an extremely talented writer/product manager/mom with the nom de plume "Another PM." Her post is below, and it is so good and so TRUE... Damn, the Cranky Product Manager wishes she wrote it herself. Please give "Another PM" feedback in the comments. We bloggers live for comments. Enjoy and see you in a week or two ...

Hey You! Mr. Release Manager! The Cranky Product Manager appreciates that you're trying to do this Agile Scrum thing by the book. And that it is hard for you. Because before this Agile tsunami came crashing down you mainly just tracked the progression of different release documents (Is the PRD done? Check. Is the Functional Spec done? Check. Is the Design Doc done? Check.) Ok, that's not fair of the Cranky Product Manager. You did ...