{"id":83036,"date":"2024-10-10T14:57:45","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T13:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prodpad.com\/?post_type=pp_glossary&p=83036"},"modified":"2024-10-10T16:45:38","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T15:45:38","slug":"dependency-management","status":"publish","type":"pp_glossary","link":"https:\/\/www.prodpad.com\/glossary\/dependency-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Dependency Management"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What is dependency management in Product Management?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Simply put, dependency management is the process of identifying and tracking crucial tasks, activities, or components that rely on each other to keep your product development on track, and then working to resolve any conflicts that could prevent the successful execution of each initiative. It’s about making sure all the pieces fall into place at the right time, in the right order, so nothing topples your development or release planning<\/a>.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s just make sure you\u2019re all clear on what a dependency is.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A dependency is a relationship between two tasks or ideas that must be completed in a certain order. It\u2019s a task or activity that needs to be tackled before another task can be started or finished. If a dependency isn\u2019t completed on time, it can delay the entire process.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

There are many types of dependencies – don\u2019t worry we\u2019ll get to those in a bit. But, to help illustrate what we\u2019re yacking off about, here\u2019s an example. 

Imagine you’re working on a new feature that requires input from Designers before development can begin. The dependency here is that the designers need to deliver the final designs before the development team can start building the feature. If the designs aren’t ready, the whole process gets delayed.

This dependency impacts time coordination and creates a risk of miscommunication. That\u2019s why managing dependencies is so important. 

Dependency management is like playing a high-stakes game of Jenga: if one block isn\u2019t where it should be, the whole tower comes tumbling down. By managing what needs to be done in order to complete another thing, you\u2019ll keep your team aligned, well-communicated, and prevent risk to avoid any bottlenecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is dependency management important? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If not properly managed, dependencies can be disruptive. They can be roadblocks that slow down your product development, leaving team members waiting on others in order to continue. At best, this can be a minor disruption, like a lane closure causing a bottleneck. At worst, it can be a road closure, causing a massive delay in your journey. Poor dependency management can halt the progress on your roadmap<\/a>. 

And that\u2019s not all. What else can happen when people are delayed on the road? Road rage! If you\u2019ve got team members waiting on other folk to move on, that can cause friction and frustration between your teams, impacting your work environment. This issue shouldn\u2019t be understated. Prolonged delays and issues can lead to teams preferring to work in silos, which isn\u2019t great if you want to create an efficient and aligned product. 

As a Product Manager, the dream is to have your roadmap followed to the exact pixel. Of course, we all know that in reality, things can go overschedule and be delivered late. That\u2019s a massive reason why we prefer the agile product development process<\/a> over timeline-based options. It\u2019s flexible. Still, by following dependency management best practices, you can increase the likelihood that your product-led launch<\/a> will go as planned.  

Want a full list of all the juicy benefits of dependency management? Of course you do! By managing dependencies well, you\u2019ll: <\/p>\n\n\n\n