And how you can achieve this
Intro
Is your Mendix project not running as smoothly or quickly as you expected? Or are you about to start a new Mendix project? Then keep reading!
In every successful Mendix project, the Product Owner (PO) plays a crucial role. The PO sets priorities, aligns with stakeholders, and ensures the development team delivers value that matches business goals. But what happens when the PO lacks knowledge of Mendix? This can lead to poor estimations, inefficient collaboration, missed opportunities, and technical debt. Technical debt arises when short-term decisions during development create long-term problems and extra work.
From our own experience, we’ve seen how important it is for a PO to not only understand the business but also have knowledge of the Mendix platform. In this blog, we’ll share why this knowledge is so valuable and how training can help.
The role of a Product Owner in Mendix projects
The role of a Product Owner in a Mendix project differs significantly from that in traditional software development, not just because of the platform’s low-code nature, but also due to the unique pace and flexibility it introduces. In Mendix, development cycles are rapid and iterative and features can move from idea to prototype in days rather than weeks. This agility requires the PO to operate at the same speed, continuously refining user stories, validating assumptions, and adjusting priorities in real-time based on feedback and progress.
Unlike in conventional environments where requirements are often static and long-term planning is the norm, a Mendix PO needs to be deeply embedded in the development process. Well-defined user stories aren’t just a formality but they serve as the connective tissue between business intent and technical implementation. Ambiguity here can have immediate consequences due to the fast-moving nature of sprints.
A Product Owner without sufficient Mendix knowledge may overlook the technical nuances of the platform, such as what is easily configurable versus what requires custom development. This can result in a backlog filled with features that seem simple from a business perspective but are disproportionately complex to implement. Conversely, the PO might miss opportunities to leverage native Mendix functionalities that could accelerate delivery. The result? Misaligned priorities, inefficiencies, and growing frustration within the team.
To be truly effective, a Mendix PO must not only represent the business but also understand how the platform translates ideas into working solutions. This means that a Mendix PO must balance business value with technical feasibility at every step.
Challenges for POs without Mendix knowledge
Many POs in Mendix projects come from the business side of the company. While they have a good understanding of the organization and its processes, they may lack technical insights, which can lead to several challenges, such as:
- Incorrect assessments of feasibility and timelines – Without understanding Mendix, it’s hard to gauge the complexity of a feature, which can lead to unrealistic expectations.
- Lack of awareness of Mendix limitations – While Mendix offers many built-in features, it also has limitations. POs unaware of these may request functionality that is difficult or even impossible without custom development.
- Difficulty setting priorities – Without technical understanding, it’s harder to judge which features will have the most impact and how best to develop them.
- Poor collaboration with the development team – A PO with no Mendix knowledge may struggle to communicate effectively with developers and may miss key decisions.
Why a PO should know Mendix
Real-life Example
We’ve worked on multiple projects with different types of POs. Each added value in their own way. However, a recurring pitfall was when companies appointed someone with deep domain knowledge but no Mendix experience as the PO. They knew the business well but didn’t understand what was technically feasible or how quickly things could be built. This led to unrealistic expectations and technical debt.
On the other hand, we also worked with a PO with a Mendix background. This had big advantages: he understood the platform, could set the right focus, and had a better sense of effort estimation and prioritization. The collaboration with the development team was smoother and more efficient. However, he lacked deep business knowledge, which caused delays and confusion when gathering input from stakeholders.
These examples show that the ideal PO combines Mendix expertise en business understanding. This combination not only leads to better decision-making but also bridges the gap between business and IT. What you really want in a PO is someone who’s willing to truly understand the other side—regardless of their background.
What you really want in a PO is someone who’s willing to truly understand the other side—regardless of their background.
What a PO should know about Mendix
Ultimately, it’s about being able to clearly and confidently define the “WHAT”—what exactly you want to achieve. At the same time, you need to understand why certain “HOW” decisions help get you there. This requires strategic thinking about how to get the most out of the Mendix platform, even if it means making trade-offs to fully leverage its strengths and efficiency. A PO doesn’t need to be an expert in all Mendix areas, but a solid foundation makes for better decisions and more effective collaboration with the development team.
To be effective in a Mendix project, a PO should have basic knowledge of the following topics:
- Security – How is authorization managed in Mendix? What are best practices for data protection?
- Data & integrations – How does Mendix work with APIs, external systems, and databases? What are its capabilities and limitations?
- UX & Design – What can be done out-of-the-box in Mendix, and when is custom work needed?
- Performance & scalability – What choices affect an app’s performance?
- Deployment & management – How is a Mendix app hosted and maintained post-delivery?
How training and coaching can help
By following a training program, a PO not only becomes stronger in their role but also contributes to a more efficient and successful Mendix project overall. Training and coaching tailored for POs in Mendix projects can help:
- Create a realistic understanding of what Mendix can and can’t do.
- Improve collaboration with developers and stakeholders.
- Make better estimates of timelines and complexity.
- Set the right priorities based on technical and business impact.
Conclusion
A Product Owner is key to the success of any Mendix project. But without platform knowledge, they risk creating unrealistic expectations, miscommunicating with the team, and setting the wrong priorities.
Our experience shows that a PO with Mendix knowledge brings tremendous added value. Do you want to be better prepared as a PO for your Mendix projects and collaborate more effectively with your team? Then a Mendix training course for POs is the perfect next step!
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