🚢 What is the #1 problem in product development?

I'll go first ... a very common challenge is shipping on time and the resulting uncertainty to the business. We often add a 2-3x factor on any estimates, but sometimes even that is not enough.

Shipping (delivering value) is the bottom line — it generates revenue and sustains the business. Delivering new products on time and providing subsequent updates are critical. Without shipping, there is no value delivery. Often businesses collaborate with customers throughout the development process. When things are late, customers and partners lose confidence. Development team morale tanks. It's a downward spiral.

This problem has an even more painful manifestation — finding out just before the BIG Release date that things are not coming together. As the saying goes, the last 10% takes 90% of the time. Surprises like this are devastating to everyone involved. Why do things fall apart near the "end" of a project? Why don't these issues surface sooner? These are complex and perplexing problems, but worth exploring in the coming days. Thoughts on this are always welcome.