intermediate · 45–45 min
The Product-Eng Peace Treaty Workshop
Engineering wants refactoring
About this session
Friction arises when product roadmaps prioritize new features while engineering teams warn of mounting technical debt that will eventually stall development. This session moves the conversation from vague complaints about code quality to a direct negotiation between feature delivery and system maintenance. It results in a documented list of specific refactoring tasks that both product and engineering leads agree to support.
Why it works
The workshop functions by making the hidden costs of technical debt visible to non-technical stakeholders while requiring engineers to justify refactoring in terms of future delivery speed. This structure forces a transparent trade-off discussion that replaces ongoing tension with a concrete, shared commitment to specific technical improvements.
What you’ll walk away with
- Clear actionable outcomes from a 2-step facilitated process
- Increased participant engagement and buy-in
- Documented decisions and next steps
- Improved team alignment on the topic
Who it’s for
Product Managers, Product Owners
Frequently asked questions
Who should facilitate this workshop?
This workshop works best when led by someone comfortable with facilitation. Ideal for Product Managers or external facilitators working with product management teams.
How long does this workshop take?
Plan for 60-90 minutes depending on group size. The 2 activities are designed to flow together smoothly.
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