I had an insightful discussion with Helena Holmström Olsson about product management and the evolution of software engineering practices. She shared her journey from informatics to software engineering, explaining how she currently works as a professor of computer science at Malmö University while conducting research through the Software Center. Helena highlighted the key differences between informatics and software engineering, noting that software engineering tends to be more solution-oriented while informatics focuses more on understanding challenges.
We explored her work on digital product management, discussing nine different approaches that combine traditional methods with data-driven and AI-enabled techniques. Helena emphasized the importance of viewing software systems as growing organisms rather than static products, suggesting that product managers should adopt more experimental approaches and leverage AI tools to make better decisions. She stressed that the goal isn’t to replace human decision-making but to create effective human-AI collaboration.
The conversation concluded with an interesting discussion about the academic-industry gap and how students are adapting to rapid technological changes. Helena shared her perspective on bridging this gap through industry-academia collaboration and noted how younger generations appear more adaptable to technological changes since they grow up with them.
If you enjoyed this episode, you will also enjoy the one I did with Jan Bosch.
Key Points and Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:52 🔄 Product management is evolving from traditional feature delivery to a more dynamic “growing systems” approach, where products continuously learn and improve like living organisms rather than being built in fixed versions.
05:56 🤖 There’s an opportunity to leverage AI and data for smarter experimentation in product development, letting systems make autonomous decisions based on real user data rather than just human assumptions.
15:24 🌱 The metaphor of “growing” versus “building” systems represents a fundamental shift in software development – treating products like children that need nurturing and continuous development rather than mechanical projects.
27:13 🤝 Academia-industry collaboration is crucial for bridging research and practical implementation, with researchers helping companies understand broader trends and best practices while getting real-world validation of their theories.
31:21 👨🎓 Current students appear less fearful of AI disruption than established professionals because they view new technologies as opportunities rather than threats, having grown up in a rapidly changing technological environment.
35:41 📚 The key skill for future professionals isn’t just technical knowledge but the mindset of continuous learning, as the pace of technological change requires constant adaptation and growth.
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