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by sksareen1
3438 days ago
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As an Associate PM moving into full ownership of a product i.e. full PM role, this is the most accurate description of the job I've seen yet. I like to describe the job as sitting in between the cross functional areas (Marketing, Sales, Dev, Exec/Management, Finance, and a whole lot of more logistical groups) to: 1. Own and sculpt the product roadmap and vision by working across the functional groups and 2. Keep everyone on track for the goal and vision of the product. It means supporting sales, leading roadmap discussions, haggling with development, defending development from Sales, using Sales as an information source to go to Marketing, dictating a plan to Marketing, and making sure it all aligns with your vision for the product. Above all, it's owning the P/L and being on the hook when something good or bad happens.
That said, I've seen PM roles differ a lot between companies, culture and products, such that a cloud-startup product PM may have a VERY different role than an on-premise software enterprise PM. For example, I have minimal development experience but have yet to see it as a serious impediment to working with my team. |
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If I may give you one huge hint on your product's SWOT at least functionally speaking and especially in a global market: Ask your delivery teams, basically they're your eyes and ears on the harsh reality of the trenches.
After being a Product Owner I became a Global Delivery Consultant, and you can't imagine how much insight you get from the guys if you find the right mean.
Personally the best approach I took was a give and take quarterly worldwide meeting with the delivery experts and their top management to list the good the bad and the ugly from their own perspective (in any aspect of the product) while product management was providing insights on what was coming and a light update on the looks of the ongoing development schedule.
I can guarantee you that 3 Regional Delivery Heads telling you that feature XXX must be reworked is invaluable info and something you can't get from sales, support teams or even your own feeling. Added bonus: They will provide you with realistic business scenarios and expected behaviors and would be interested in taking part of the validation process for you.
Likewise, delivery guys will be more relaxed as they will be aware of the development fitness ahead of the official schedule and therefore won't sale features at risk (they're in projects all the time, they have to deal with the unexpected on a daily basis).
Because Delivery Teams are the closest to the product they are the first ones to proof it, support it and also bridge all the gaps for your customers. The rest is only paperwork and planning.