The Illusion of Progress
Shipping fast isn't progress. Clean backlogs and on-time releases can mask weak impact. When strategy is a slide deck, and success means 'shipped', teams sprint in circles. Progress is learning, behavior change, and clarity. Ask: what are we trying to learn, change, and prove? Then adjust. Not ship.
Why Shipping Faster Doesn’t Always Mean Moving Forward
The backlog is clean. Velocity looks good. Features ship on time. And yet — something’s missing.
You’ve seen it.
Deadlines hit, but outcomes unclear. Roadmaps full, customers quiet. Teams busy, business impact blurry.
Welcome to a common trap in modern product orgs: The Illusion of Progress.