Product Story - Tenacious Velocity

I was the "new" guy at Point72 (S.A.C. Capital).  This means I built the desk reports for the new portfolio managers that arrived on the trading floor.  Two new PMs arrived from a competitor. I needed to build their portfolio valuation report.  It was the report that they used to price investments in their portfolio.  The PMs told me that the report was fundamental to their work.  They needed it before their gardening leave ended and the desk started trading.

Product design was not an issue.  They had an example of the previous report that they used, and they wanted an exact replica of said report.  Our funds infrastructure was unique. Making an exact copy of the report was not easy.  I broke my back to make it pixel-perfect.  My first test delivery was 60% done; the second test delivery was 85% done.  Three months in, the PMs accepted the third delivery.  

After delivering the report, the PMs leveled with me.  They had used the exact same report at their prior two employers.  They designed it at the first stop.  It was replicated – just like I had done – at the second stop.  

The senior PM said to me, “How long do you think the development took at the second shop?”  

I said, “I am not sure…"

“9 months!” he said to me.  I smiled.

3 months << 9 months

Could your organization use a palpable velocity increase??