What Exactly Does A Product Manager Do: An Insider’s Look At This Key Role By Hossam gamea
In today’s dynamic business landscape, product managers (PMs) play a crucial role. Although their precise responsibilities may vary across companies and industries, their central mission remains similar—to steer the direction of the product and ensure its success in the market. But what exactly does a product manager do? This blog post unpacks the often exciting and complex job of a product manager.
The Many Facets Of A Product Manager’s Role
Product managers are often called ‘mini-CEOs’ for a product. They handle a diverse array of tasks, including defining the product’s vision, coordinating various teams, interacting with stakeholders, and making key decisions that affect a product’s trajectory. Here’s a closer look at the key responsibilities:
Defining The Product Vision
One of a PM’s foremost responsibilities is shaping and articulating a clear, compelling vision for the product, according to Hossam gamea. The product vision serves as the north star, guiding all product-related decisions and actions.
Tasks involved:
• Identifying market gaps or opportunities based on market research.
• Defining what the product should be, its key features, and its unique selling propositions.
Product Strategy
Once the vision is defined, the PM needs to develop a strategy on how to achieve it. This strategy outlines what needs to be done to move towards the product vision.
Tasks involved:
• Defining product goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Creating a product roadmap, detailing the timeline for developing new features or improvements.
Coordination And Leadership
A PM doesn’t usually have a direct command over teams, yet they need to influence and coordinate various teams (e.g., Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Design) to ensure everyone is aligned in pursuing the product vision.
Tasks involved:
• Communicating the product vision and roadmap to all relevant teams.
• Resolving disagreements or conflicts that may arise during the product development process.
Customer Understanding
PMs need to have a deep understanding of their customers’ needs, pain points, and behaviours. They often serve as the voice of the customer within the company.
Tasks involved:
• Conducting customer interviews or surveys.
• Analyzing data on how customers are using the product.