#176: Why Most Product Organizations Struggle with Jason Knight

#176: Why Most Product Organizations Struggle with Jason Knight

Author: Mountain Goat Software March 10, 2026 Duration: 34:42
Many product teams are busy, but not necessarily effective. Brian Milner talks with product consultant Jason Knight about why so many organizations struggle with prioritization, customer insight, and measuring success—and what it takes to build a product organization that actually delivers value.   Overview What does it really mean to transform a product organization? Brian Milner sits down with product consultant and One Knight in Product host Jason Knight to explore the gap between how product management is described in books and how it actually works inside most companies. They discuss the reality many teams face: massive backlogs full of competing priorities, pressure from stakeholders, and organizations that say they are customer-focused but rarely talk to customers. Jason shares practical perspectives on prioritization, strategy, and why good product teams must learn to say no—even to good ideas. The conversation also dives into customer discovery, the barriers that keep teams from speaking directly with users, and how organizations should think about measuring success beyond simply “building the feature.” If your organization is trying to move beyond feature factories and build a stronger product practice, this episode offers a grounded look at where to start.   References and resources mentioned in the show: Jason KnightOne Knight in Product PodcastBlog: What Does a Product Owner Do, When, and Why?Blog: How to Ensure You’re Working on the Most Important Items Each Iteration by Mike Cohn#124: How to Avoid Common Product Team Pitfalls with David Pereira#154: The Underpowered PO with Barnaby GoldenSubscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast    Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input.   Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one.   Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is a Certified Scrum Trainer®, Certified Scrum Professional®, Certified ScrumMaster®, and Certified Scrum Product Owner®, and host of the Agile Mentors Podcast training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work.  Jason Knight is a product consultant, coach, and host of the One Knight in Product podcast who helps scaling B2B companies move beyond feature factories and build product teams that deliver real business impact. He works with organizations to connect strategy to execution through fractional product leadership, workshops, and coaching that bring clarity, alignment, and measurable results.  

Hosted by Mountain Goat Software, the Agile Mentors Podcast is a conversation for anyone involved in or curious about agile practices. It’s a space where the philosophy meets the practical, moving beyond theory to tackle the real-world challenges teams face every day. You’ll hear discussions that dig into the nuances of Scrum, Kanban, and other frameworks, exploring how they adapt to different environments and scale. The dialogue often focuses on the human side of change-how to foster better collaboration, navigate organizational hurdles, and cultivate a genuinely agile mindset rather than just going through the motions. This podcast serves as a resource for continuous learning, whether you're troubleshooting a specific sprint issue or looking for fresh perspectives to reinvigorate your approach. Each episode aims to provide actionable insights and thoughtful reflection, making the complex landscape of modern software development feel more accessible and manageable. Tune in for honest talk from experienced practitioners who understand that agility is a journey, not a destination.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Agile Mentors Podcast from Mountain Goat Software
Podcast Episodes
#168: Gratitude, Growth, and the Power to Evolve with Brian Milner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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It’s not a full episode this week—but it might be the one your heart needs. Brian Milner shares what he’s truly grateful for this year (spoiler: it’s not a new tool or framework), reflects on the human side of agility, a…
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#165: Can Your Product Process Keep Up With AI with Cort Sharp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#164: Why Innovation Efforts Fall Flat with Tendayi Viki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:23
Tendayi Viki joins Brian to unpack the difference between doing innovation and delivering value, with practical takeaways for product folks, innovation teams, and anyone who wants to stop spinning their wheels. Overview…
#163: Should We Go Back to the Office? It Depends. with Lance Dacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:07
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#161: Test-Driven Development in the Age of AI with Clare Sudbery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:05
AI might write your code, but can you trust it to do it well? Clare Sudbery says: not without a safety net. In this episode, she explains how test-driven development is evolving in the age of AI, and why developers need…
#160: The Real Work of a Scrum Master with Brian Campbell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:03
What separates a solid Scrum Master from a great one? In this episode, Brian Milner sits down with veteran Scrum Master Brian Campbell to talk about the balance between being empathetic, staying grounded, and knowing whe…
#159:  Is Scrum Really Too Many Meetings? with Lance Dacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:09
“Too many meetings” is one of the most common complaints in Scrum teams, but is it really the meetings, or what’s (not) happening in them? In this episode, Brian and Lance Dacy dig into the events of Scrum to uncover wha…