PODS
PODS ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN SYSTEM
PODS AND PRODUCT MODEL
The PODS Organizational Design System and Marty Cagan's Product Operating Model share foundational principles of empowering teams, focusing on outcomes, and fostering adaptability.
However, they differ significantly in scope, structure, and areas of application. While PODS offers a broad organizational design system for scalability across diverse functions, the Product Operating Model specifically focuses on empowering product teams to deliver customer solutions.
Purpose and Focus
Product Operating Model
Specifically tailored for product management teams, focusing on empowering cross-functional teams to deliver high-value customer solutions iteratively and incrementally.
PODS
A broad organizational design system optimizing scalability and adaptability across diverse industries and functions, creating autonomous, self-sufficient units capable of addressing complex challenges and delivering long-term outcomes.
Scope and Application
Product Operating Model
Narrowly scoped to product-focused teams, relying on small, empowered product teams working autonomously within a well-defined structure.
PODS
Extends beyond product development, offering a versatile framework for managing diverse organizational functions such as service delivery, operational excellence, and strategic initiatives.
Structure and Leadership
Product Operating Model
Revolves around smaller, single product teams with a triad leadership (product manager, designer, tech lead) deeply involved in decision-making and execution.
PODS
Stable, scalable containers with distributed leadership between PODS Managers (strategy, purpose) and Members (execution). Managers remain at the periphery, ensuring resources and clarity while avoiding micromanagement.
Flexibility and Dependencies
Product Operating Model
More structured framework optimized for product development, acknowledging and managing dependencies between teams through collaboration and alignment.
PODS
Highly adaptable, allowing dynamic reconfiguration and integration of multiple methodologies. Minimizes dependencies through autonomous, self-sufficient units.
Customer-Centricity and Outcomes
Product Operating Model
Embeds customer focus directly within product teams, measuring success through the value and impact of iterative product increments.
PODS
Addresses holistic customer journeys and business problems through a broad organizational lens, focusing on end-to-end outcomes across functions.
A Product Operating Model (a.k.a. Product Model) is a method that defines how an organization structures itself around products, establishing the governance, processes, and ways of working needed to operate as a product-led organization. Learn more about Marty Cagan's Product Operating Model at SVPG.