Harnessing Structured Conversations for Customer-Driven Value Delivery
Non-Fiction (Business, Strategy, Product Management, Agile)
Date Published: January 26, 2026
You’ve been in that Agile planning session.
Everyone agrees on goals like “improve customer experience” or
“increase engagement.” The roadmap looks aligned. The OKRs are
approved. But when the sprint ends, no one can clearly explain what success
actually means—or why customers should care.
Months later, your product team ships a feature. Customers don’t use it.
Stakeholders ask uncomfortable questions. Someone says, “I thought we
were building something different.”
This isn’t a delivery problem. It’s a conversation problem.
Across Agile teams, product management organizations, and enterprise
transformations, teams work hard, follow the process, and deliver on
time—yet still struggle to create real customer and business value. The
gap isn’t execution. It’s how goals, assumptions, and decisions
are discussed.
Structured Conversations is a practical toolkit for closing that gap.
This book shows product leaders, Agile coaches, and delivery teams how to use
clear language and visual thinking to align strategy, product decisions, and
day‑to‑day work around measurable outcomes.
In this book, you’ll learn how to:
* Write clear, outcome‑focused goals using VERB + NOUN syntax that eliminate
ambiguity* Connect customer needs to business impact using Empathy Mapping, Customer
Journey Mapping, and Impact Mapping* Align product roadmaps and delivery plans with OKRs that drive
accountability and learning* Validate assumptions early using Hypothesis‑Driven Development and Example
Mapping* Facilitate cross‑functional Agile conversations where disagreements become
productive* Turn vague requirements into clear, executable user stories that teams
interpret the same way
Drawing on experience across startups, financial services, and large‑scale
Agile transformations, Structured Conversations bridges the gap between
product strategy and value delivery with techniques that work in real‑world
environments.
The approaches are modular. Start with the technique that addresses your
biggest challenge today. Each chapter includes step‑by‑step guidance, real
examples, and “Try This Right Now” exercises you can apply
immediately.
Whether you work in product management, Agile delivery, or organizational
change, this book helps you turn good intentions into measurable outcomes.
Claude Hanhart is a Product Strategist and Agile Coach with 10+ years of
leadership experience in driving groundbreaking product strategies and agile
transformations. His approach centers on fostering innovation rooted in
business objectives, customer experience, and market leadership through tools
such as Generative AI, OKRs, and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD).
Claude’s unique academic background – with an MA in Ancient Near Eastern
Archaeology and Languages from the University of Berne in Switzerland and an
MA in Geography from the University of Minnesota – brings an interdisciplinary
perspective to modern product challenges. His multilingual abilities in
German, Swiss German, and French have proven invaluable in international
collaborations.
Structured Conversations represents Claude’s commitment to bridging strategic
thinking with practical implementation. Currently based in New Jersey with his
wife, Claude finds that their three energetic dogs serve as daily reminders
about the importance of clear communication and patient guidance – principles
that translate beautifully into his professional coaching work.
Rachel is a seasoned business‑strategy professional whose career has been
built around turning complex challenges into clear, actionable solutions. With
a track record of guiding organizations toward measurable impact, she blends
rigorous, data‑driven analysis with a human‑centric mindset – always asking
how people, processes, and technology can work together more effectively. Her
practical, results‑focused approach has helped teams align goals, streamline
actions, and translate those actions into lasting outcomes.
Structured Conversations marks Rachel’s first full‑length publication, and she
feels especially honored to have been invited by Claude to co‑create this
work. Rachel lives in North Carolina with her husband and their four
rambunctious cats. When she isn’t untangling business puzzles, you’ll find her
exploring the local arts scene, hiking and mountain biking, or enjoying a
quiet evening of reading with her feline companions.
