Introduction

Boards push shifts to product models, but big changes demand early wins. A pilot team can prove your new model works fast and safely.

What’s the problem it solves?

Large companies want to switch to a product-focused way of working but fear the risks and costs of a full transformation. They need a quick, low-cost test to show this model truly delivers results.

Quick Summary

A pilot team acts like a small experiment to test the product model before rolling it out company-wide. By picking a handful of top performers, a clear problem, and measurable goals, this team can learn fast without risking the whole business.

Staffing is crucial: hand-pick people who want to learn new methods and can show others what “good” looks like. Choose a problem that matters but can be solved in a few months, and agree on how you’ll measure success without setting unreachable targets.

The pilot also teaches the rest of the organization what skills, tools, and culture shifts are needed for a full transformation. With the right coaching and stakeholder support, a successful pilot sparks demand for wider change and lays the groundwork for future teams in each business unit.

Key Takeaways

• A pilot team is the MVP of your transformation, testing the product model quickly and cheaply.
• Hand-select skilled, motivated members to raise the bar and demonstrate best practices.
• Pick a meaningful yet doable problem, and let stakeholders help define how to measure impact.
• Provide coaching in product discovery and delivery so the team can work in the new way.
• A clear win inspires others to join and guides the full rollout across all units.

What to do

• Choose 4–6 top performers who are eager to learn and work in a product model.
• Identify a high-impact problem that can be scoped and solved in one or two quarters.
• Agree with stakeholders on success metrics (e.g., adoption, revenue lift) without fixed targets.
• Arrange coaching or bring in an expert to teach discovery, prototyping, and delivery practices.
• Run the pilot, collect lessons on roles, culture, and tools, and plan next pilots for each business unit.

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