Atlassian: 80% skip engineers early

Atlassian says 80% of product teams still do not involve engineers early in ideation, problem definition, or roadmap creation. (atlassian.com) The finding comes from Atlassian’s first State of Product 2026 report, published September 3, 2025, based on a survey of more than 1,000 product professionals across the United States and Europe. (atlassian.com 1) (atlassian.com 2) Atlassian said collaboration often starts only after key decisions are made, which leaves teams with missed opportunities and late-stage surprises. Mind the Product, summarizing the report, said engineers are often excluded from ideation, problem definition, and roadmap creation. (atlassian.com) (mindtheproduct.com) The same report found 84% of product teams worry their current products will not succeed in the market. Atlassian also said 49% of teams lack enough time for strategic planning, roadmap development, or deep analysis. (atlassian.com 1) (atlassian.com 2) Atlassian framed the problem as part of a wider shift toward “profit over everything,” with product teams under pressure to prove business results while still leading innovation. The company said only 12% find driving measurable business results rewarding, even as 85% say they have a seat at the strategic table. (atlassian.com) The report also said only 60% of teams make experimentation a regular part of their process, while 40% do little or none. Atlassian said that leaves teams making bigger bets with less data. (atlassian.com) Artificial intelligence is helping with routine work, but not the harder product decisions. Atlassian said most teams use one to three AI tools daily and save about two hours a day, yet still struggle with prioritization, planning, advanced analytics, trust, and data security. (atlassian.com) The broader management argument behind early alignment appears in other research too, though not in the same product-team context. Boston Consulting Group said in August 2025 that transformations are nearly 70% more likely to succeed when finance, strategy, and transformation leaders partner closely from day one. (bcg.com) Atlassian’s takeaway is narrower: bring engineering into discovery before the build starts. Its data suggests many teams still wait until decisions are already locked, then pay for it later in confidence, strategy time, and execution risk. (atlassian.com)