Product Manager

A Product Manager is a knowledge-based collaboration worker who performs product management tasks.

• Context:
  • They can create Product Requirements (that can align with company goals).
  • They can (often) have a Product Mindset (which focuses on the what and the why, while considering how and when ...balancing the needs of design, business, and technology, while informed by customer service).
  • They can (often) represent the interest of Product Users.
  • They can (often) often perform Product Ideation.
  • They can (often) often perform Product Analysis.
  • They can (often) think about the why of business models, and when and how to bring products to market
  • They can (often) think about how to build things, and what is possible.
  • They can (often) think about who uses existing products and how to resolve their human needs.
  • They can range from being an Early-in-Career Product Manager to being a Senior Product Manager (like a Principal Product Manager).
  • …
• Example(s):
  • a Software Product Manager (for a software product), such as an AI/ML-focused product manager.
  • an Experimentation-focused Product Manager.
  • an Online Store Product Manager, for an online store.
  • an Online Reading Service Product Manager, for an online reading service.
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • a Program Manager or Program Director.
  • a Project Manager.
  • a Software Engineering Manager.
  • a Marketing Manager.
• See: Product Management, High-Tech, Product Marketing, Outbound Marketing, Outbound Marketing.

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References

2020

• (Wikipedia, 2020) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/product_manager Retrieved:2020-12-9.
  • A product manager is a professional role that is responsible for the development of products for an organization, known as the practice of product management. Product managers own the business strategy behind a product (both physical and digital products), specify its functional requirements, and generally manage the launch of features. They coordinate work done by many other functions (like software engineers, data scientists, and product designers) and are ultimately responsible for the business success of the product.

2020

• https://www.mindtheproduct.com/hiring-product-manager-little-clarity-goes-long-way/
  • QUOTE: ... ...

    ... : by recognizing her own orientation, she was able to see what she was good at, what she wanted to be good at, and what she wasn’t trying to get ...

2014

• (Wikipedia, 2014) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/product_manager Retrieved:2014-10-9.
  • A product manager investigates, selects, and drives the development of products for an organization, performing the activities of product management.

    A product manager considers numerous factors such as intended demographic, the products offered by the competition, and how well the product fits with the company's business model. Generally, a product manager manages one or more tangible products. However, the term may be used to describe a person who manages intangible products, such as music, information, and services.

    A product manager's role in tangible goods industries is similar to a program director's role in service industries.

    Diverse interpretations regarding the role of the product manager are the norm. The product manager title is often used in many ways to describe drastically different duties and responsibilities. Even within the high-tech industry where product management is better defined, the product manager's job description varies widely among companies. This is due to tradition and intuitive interpretations by different individuals.

    In the financial services industry (banking, insurance etc.), product managers manage products (for example, credit card portfolios), their profit and loss, and also determine the business development strategy.

    In some companies, the product manager also acts as a:

    • Product marketing manager — may perform all outbound marketing activities in the older sense of the term
    • Project manager — may perform all activities related to schedule and resource management
    • Program manager — may perform activities related to schedule, resource, and cross-functional execution

2014

• (Chisa, 2014) ⇒ Ellen Chisa. (2014). “Evolution of the Product Manager.” In: Communications of the ACM Journal, 57(11). doi:10.1145/2669480
  • QUOTE: Software practitioners know product management is a key piece of software development. Product managers talk to users to help figure out what to build, define requirements, and write functional specifications. They work closely with engineers throughout the process of building software. They serve as a sounding board for ideas, help balance the schedule when technical challenges occur - and push back to executive teams when technical revisions are needed. Product managers are involved from before the first code is written, until after it goes out the door.

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