Product manager's job is to decide what to build next

A product manager is responsible for deciding what to build next in a product.

In order to do that, the PM has to make sure that the feature of the product they're building is:

• valuable (answers a user need – whether functional or emotional one)
• usable (people can learn to use it quickly and can use it often without problems)
• feasible (the company is able to build it with reasonable amount of resources)
• viable for the business (the company can support it and it fits into company's strategy)

A starting point for the PM when prioritizing is usually the company's strategy. They'll have objectives to achieve and will ask "Will X help the company achieve this?"

After this prioritization, it's about collaborating with others: Product management is an operational role

Tags: product management

ID: 2020-1116-1536

References:

• Cagan, 2008: Inspired (ch. 1)