Changelog 📃 The Double Trio Framework v.2.0 for AI Product Management
Evolution of the Double Trio Framework - Why the Operational Trio is Now the Strategic Trio
#beyondAI
When I first introduced the Double Trio Framework, the goal was to show you how to structure your AI Product ambitions and your learning path to becoming an AIPM. The framework, divided into the Technical Trio and the Operational Trio, aimed to encapsulate all the essential elements required to build and sustain successful AI products. However, based on insightful feedback from our vibrant community, it's clear that there’s a more fitting name for what I initially called the Operational Trio.
Today, I want to share with you the evolution of this framework—the Operational Trio is now the Strategic Trio. In this update, I will explain the reasons behind this change, how the Double Trio now better describes the complexity of AI product development, and provide examples of balancing the trios. Additionally, there’s a new section on the critical role of AI Product Managers in maintaining this balance.
You can read the revised version here: The Double Trio Framework v2.0 for AI Product Management
Happy reading 🛋️
Before starting: If you’ve found my posts valuable, consider supporting my work. While I’m not accepting payments, you can help by sharing, liking, and commenting on my LinkedIn posts introducing this issue. This helps me reach more people on this journey.
Thank you for supporting and motivating me to continue sharing my experience with you. Thanks for being part of this community ❤️.
[Renamed] - Why Rename to Strategic Trio?
The original term Operational Trio certainly captured the essence of governance, business, and people, but it didn’t fully reflect the broader, ongoing strategic importance of these elements. Here’s why Strategic Trio is a more appropriate term:
Broad Scope: The term "Strategic" highlights the continuous, overarching importance of governance, business alignment, and people management. It’s not just about the operational tasks but about the long-term planning and strategic direction.
Continuous Importance: Strategy is crucial from the inception of an AI product through its entire lifecycle. It underscores that these elements are not one-time considerations but ongoing priorities that guide the product’s evolution.
Comprehensive Approach: The term "Strategic" implies a holistic view that integrates both the formation and the sustainment of AI products. It highlights the need for strategic oversight that aligns technical capabilities with business goals and ethical standards.
Balance and Integration: The renaming better aligns with the concept of balancing technical and strategic considerations, ensuring AI products are viable, ethical, and user-centric.
Implied Operational Aspects: The term "Strategic" inherently includes operational elements. Strategy encompasses not only high-level planning but also the execution and management of those plans. By renaming it to the Strategic Trio, we acknowledge that effective governance, business alignment, and people management involve both strategic foresight and operational execution. This ensures a comprehensive approach that addresses both the planning and implementation phases essential for AI product success.
[Expanded] - Describing the Complexity
The six dimensions of the Double Trio—Technical Trio (IT, Data, AI) and Strategic Trio (Business, Governance, People)—together describe the comprehensive complexity of AI product development. Each dimension represents a critical area that must be addressed and balanced to achieve success.
IT: Ensuring scalable and secure infrastructure.
Data: Managing data collection, storage, quality, and governance.
AI: Selecting and applying the right algorithms and technologies.
Business: Aligning AI capabilities with business objectives and financial viability.
Governance: Ensuring regulatory compliance, ethical standards, and risk management.
People: Understanding user needs, fostering team collaboration, and managing stakeholder engagement to ensure the product meets real-world requirements and expectations.
[Expanded] - Balancing the Trios and Building Bridges
To develop a successful AI product, it is essential to balance the Technical Trio and the Strategic Trio. This balance involves recognizing the interplay between these six dimensions and building bridges to address problems that span multiple dimensions. These bridges enable solutions for complex, overarching issues that cannot be resolved within a single dimension.
AI Product Managers play a crucial role in solving these complex, cross-dimensional problems by:
Architecting Bridges: They create and manage connections between the technical and strategic elements, ensuring all dimensions are considered and integrated effectively.
Balancing Elements: They continuously assess and adjust the balance between the Technical and Strategic Trios to adapt to changing needs and contexts.
Active Problem Solving: They actively engage with teams and stakeholders to identify and address issues, leveraging their comprehensive understanding of both technical and strategic aspects to devise holistic solutions.
Example Problems and Solutions:
Data Privacy and User Trust:
Problem: Ensuring data privacy while maintaining user trust involves both technical and strategic elements. It requires robust IT infrastructure and data governance, along with clear business policies and transparent communication with users.
Solution: An AI Product Manager architects bridges between IT, data governance, and user engagement strategies to create solutions that secure data while fostering trust. They ensure compliance with regulations and communicate transparently with stakeholders.
Scalability and Business Alignment:
Problem: Scaling an AI solution to meet business growth requires seamless integration of IT and AI capabilities with strategic business planning and investment.
Solution: An AIPM balances technical scalability with business strategy by coordinating efforts between infrastructure teams and business units. They plan for scalable architectures that align with long-term business goals and secure necessary investments.
Ethical AI Deployment:
Problem: Deploying AI ethically involves navigating technical, governance, and people-related challenges. It requires developing fair algorithms, ensuring regulatory compliance, and considering societal impacts.
Solution: An AIPM builds bridges between AI development, governance frameworks, and user research. They advocate for ethical AI practices, ensure compliance, and engage with diverse stakeholders to understand societal impacts and address concerns.
This revision underscores the invaluable role of community feedback. The idea to rename the Operational Trio to the Strategic Trio emerged directly from the thoughtful insights and discussions within our community. Your feedback has not only improved the framework but has also enhanced the clarity and effectiveness of my content.
Being part of a community is about more than just sharing knowledge—it’s about collectively refining our ideas and growing together. This change is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the #beyondAI community. Together, we make each other better, and our shared insights make our journey in AI product management more impactful.
And what’s best: We enable aspiring AIPMs.
With this refined understanding, the Double Trio Framework now more accurately represents the intricate balance required in AI product development. I’m confident that this adjustment will help you navigate your AI initiatives more effectively, keeping in mind both the technical and strategic dimensions that are essential for success.
Thank you for your continued engagement and valuable feedback.
JBK 🕊️
P.S and a friendly reminder
If you’ve found my posts valuable, consider supporting my work. While I’m not accepting payments, you can help by sharing, liking, and commenting on my LinkedIn posts introducing this issue. This helps me reach more people on this journey.
Thank you for supporting and motivating me to continue sharing my experience with you. Thanks for being part of this community ❤️.