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Introduction: Why Most Product Teams Fail and How to Fix It

In today’s fast-paced digital economy, building products that customers actually want is no longer optional—it’s a necessity for survival. Yet many companies fall into what Melissa Perri calls the “build trap”: a cycle of endlessly shipping features without delivering real value or impact.

Escaping the Build Trap unpacks this common pitfall and offers a clear, actionable roadmap to transform product management from a feature factory into a strategic driver of business growth. Drawing on her extensive experience as a product leader and consultant, Perri reveals how teams can shift their focus from output to outcomes—aligning product efforts with genuine customer needs and company goals.

Whether you’re a product manager, executive, or founder, this book is essential reading to help you break free from the endless build cycle and start delivering products that truly matter.

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Top 10 Lessons from Escaping the Build Trap by Melissa Perri

1. Focus on Outcomes, Not Outputs

Shipping features is easy, but delivering measurable business and customer outcomes is what drives lasting success.

2. Understand the Problem Before Designing the Solution

Effective product management starts with deep customer insight. Invest time in discovering and defining the right problem before jumping to solutions.

3. Product Strategy Must Align with Business Goals

A strong product strategy connects your roadmap to overarching company objectives, ensuring every feature supports measurable growth.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration is Critical

Product teams must work closely with design, engineering, marketing, and sales to build aligned, user-centric products.

5. Empower Teams with Clear Decision-Making Authority

Decentralize decisions to teams closest to the customer to increase speed, ownership, and innovation.

6. Create Continuous Feedback Loops

Use customer feedback, data, and experimentation to iteratively validate assumptions and adapt product direction.

7. Avoid Feature Factories

Don’t confuse activity with progress. Prioritize work that delivers value instead of just output volume.

8. Build a Product Culture Focused on Learning

Encourage curiosity, experimentation, and learning from failures to improve products and processes continuously.

9. Metrics Should Guide, Not Drive, Decisions

Use data as a compass—not a master. Balance quantitative metrics with qualitative insights for better product judgment.

10. Leadership Must Champion Product Management

C-suite buy-in is essential. Leaders need to support product discipline and create an environment where strategic product management can thrive.

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Conclusion: From Building Features to Creating Value

Escaping the Build Trap is a definitive guide for anyone frustrated with the endless cycle of building features that don’t move the needle. Melissa Perri’s insights show how to shift from output obsession to outcome focus, empowering teams to build meaningful products that solve real problems and drive business growth.

If you want to lead a product team that delivers true impact—not just volume—this book will equip you with the mindset, tools, and strategies to escape the build trap and unlock lasting success.