What Product Management Is Not
Distinguish between the myths and facts of product management.
Product management is a complex and nuanced craft. As such, there are many anti-patterns, or practices that, while common, aren’t the best way to use product management to the best effect. In this lesson, we will take a look at a few of the most prevalent anti-patterns.
Product management is not a feature factory
Imagine a customer service representative at a software company receiving a request from a client to add a new feature that allows users to schedule reminders. This customer service representative, following protocol, submits the request to the product team. The product team, in turn, treats the request as a requirement and begins working on delivering the feature. However, the product manager takes a step back and carefully considers the request. They recognize that the underlying root problem is that the client wants to improve productivity and efficiency for their employees. After conducting market research and gathering feedback from other customers, the product manager realizes that a better solution would be to integrate the software with a third-party calendar app, rather than adding a new feature. The product manager works with stakeholders to develop a plan to integrate the software with the calendar app. This approach results in a more effective solution for the client and the company as a ...