Most of us know the playbook: pick a project management framework, stick to it, deliver. But when it comes to product design and prototyping, those neat frameworks can fall apart.
Waterfall assumes predictability, yet R&D often begins with unknowns. Agile loves structure and sprints, but what happens when an early prototype fails completely, or testing opens up an entirely new direction? These cycles don’t always fit into Gantt charts or sprint boards.
Prototyping is messy by design. Concepts fail, materials surprise us, and iterations sometimes send us back to square one. That’s not wasted effort—it’s learning. Successful teams treat prototypes as experiments, not deliverables, blending methods and creating space for flexibility.
💡 The lesson? In product innovation, project management isn’t about controlling every step—it’s about managing uncertainty. The teams that embrace this mindset unlock creativity while still steering toward practical outcomes.
👉 How does your team balance structure and flexibility in the prototyping stage?
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