Intro to product management | Product management #1

Introduction

In today’s increasingly digital world, effective product management requires a diverse set of skills. These are, for example:

• researching the market and users’ needs,
• defining a product vision and strategy,
• planning and prioritizing product features,
• collaborating with development and marketing teams,
• testing and implementing the product, and
• measuring and optimizing its performance.

Product management definition

Product management is the process of planning, creating, promoting, and maintaining a product throughout its life cycle. Product managers work with teams like research and development, production, marketing, and sales to ensure everything runs smoothly. Their main objective is to create and deliver a product that not only meets but exceeds customer expectations.

For example, a product manager in a tech company working on a new mobile application faces all sorts of challenges. They need to understand users’ needs, manage developers, testers, and designers, and also collaborate with the marketing department to effectively promote the app in the market.

Product life cycle

The product life cycle refers to the stages a product goes through from its introduction to its potential decline in the market. They include:

• introduction,
• growth,
• maturity, and
• decline.

80% of new products fail in the first year after being launched to the market. This is because business owners often forget that managing a product at each of these stages requires a different approach. And at each stage, a product manager plays a crucial role. In the introduction phase, a product manager must inform potential customers about the product’s features, benefits, and value proposition.

During the growth phase, they must focus on finding new ways to increase sales and further develop the product. In the maturity phase, they must maintain interest in the product. And in the decline phase, they must decide whether to refresh the product or withdraw it from the market. A good example can be Apple’s iPod, which went through all these phases, from an exciting new product to one that was eventually discontinued.

Building a product strategy

To ensure a product moves smoothly through its life cycle, it is crucial to create a comprehensive product strategy. This process starts by gaining a deep understanding of the market, competition, customers, and the company’s capabilities. The key components of a product strategy include:

• defining the purpose, mission, and vision of the product,
• setting specific, measurable goals using the SMART methodology and OKRs.

For example, a product strategy for a mobile app might include objectives like increasing the number of users, enhancing customer satisfaction, and boosting advertising revenue. In this case, defining SMART parameters helps ensure that your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Getting to know your customers and creating a value proposition

To define product goals properly, it’s essential to understand customers’ needs and create a unique value proposition. And these are the product manager’s key tasks. By grasping customers’ pain points, requirements, and expectations, they can create products that meet market demands.

For instance, if it’s been recognized that frontline workers need better communication tools, product managers can focus on developing a digital product that addresses this need. They can conduct thorough research to understand these users and identify their specific requirements.

Launching a product and quality management

Launching a product is a complex process that involves the collaboration of various teams. A product manager plays a crucial role in ensuring the successful execution of this process and meeting customers’ expectations. For instance, a product manager may cooperate with the quality assurance team to ensure that the product is free from errors and aligns with customers’ requirements.

Measuring product success

Measuring the effectiveness and success of a product is crucial to the product management process. Product managers must monitor various metrics such as:

• sales,
• customer satisfaction, or
• user engagement.

By using data from various sources and analyzing it with AI-powered tools, a product manager can understand how the product is performing in the market and pinpoint areas that need improvement.

Summary

Product management is a complex and multifaceted role that encompasses guiding a product from its initial concept to the end of its life cycle. It involves developing a vision and strategy, understanding customers, launching the product into the market, and evaluating its success. Each stage requires specific skills and knowledge.

Product management is a dynamic and engaging process that is constantly changing and evolving. Success in product management relies on continuous learning, adaptability, creativity, and the skill to integrate diverse elements to meet customers’ needs.

If you like our content, join our busy bees community on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok.