Product Management 101


Book Description

Are you ready to skip the dizzying detail of 400-page books? Want the nitty-gritty on product management in short, readable pieces? Product Management 101 is the book one of the Product Management ShortRead Series. It covers the landscape of the job of non-software product managers. Learn what types of companies hire product managers and how to think through the application and interview process. Gain tips on firefighting and improving competencies. Consider three metaphors for the job of product manager and learn the three core principles. And don't skip the last chapter. It contains self-reflection questions to assess how comfortable you are with common aspects of the job. It ends with recommended resources to improve your skills.




Mastering Product Management: A Step-By-Step Guide


Book Description

Mastering Product Management: A Step-by-Step Guide offers practical, real-world advice on how to create and capture value as a Product Manager. It covers the full product life cycle, from idea discovery through end-of-life. Each section is scannable and concise, around two to three pages. Rather than diving deep into the theoretical background of a given area, it serves as a checklist of the key steps a Product Manager should take to complete a given task. - Source new ideas that succeed - Set a compelling product vision and strategy - Search for profitable new business models - Become a market expert - Effectively manage roadmaps - Ensure a successful product launch - Understand value and price profitably - Build and manage high-performance teams - And much more! This book is a convenient reference guide that you can use throughout your workday. It’s meant for Product Managers of all levels and for anyone wishing to understand what it takes to define, develop, launch, and market new products successfully.




Building Products for the Enterprise


Book Description

If you’re new to software product management or just want to learn more about it, there’s plenty of advice available—but most of it is geared toward consumer products. Creating high-quality software for the enterprise involves a much different set of challenges. In this practical book, two expert product managers provide straightforward guidance for people looking to join the thriving enterprise market. Authors Blair Reeves and Benjamin Gaines explain critical differences between enterprise and consumer products, and deliver strategies for overcoming challenges when building for the enterprise. You’ll learn how to cultivate knowledge of your organization, the products you build, and the industry you serve. Explore why: Identifying customer vs user problems is an enterprise project manager’s main challenge Effective collaboration requires in-depth knowledge of the organization Analyzing data is key to understanding why users buy and retain your product Having experience in the industry you’re building products for is valuable Product longevity depends on knowing where the industry is headed




Product Management in Practice


Book Description

Product management has become a critical connective role for modern organizations, from small technology startups to global corporate enterprises. And yet the day-to-day work of product management remains largely misunderstood. In theory, product management is about building products that people love. The real-world practice of product management is often about difficult conversations, practical compromises, and hard-won incremental gains. In this book, author Matt LeMay focuses on the CORE connective skills— communication, organization, research, execution—that can build a successful product management practice across industries, organizations, teams, andtoolsets. For current and aspiring product managers, this book explores:? On-the-ground tactics for facilitating collaboration and communication? How to talk to users and work with executives? The importance of setting clear and actionable goals? Using roadmaps to connect and align your team? A values-first approach to implementing Agile practices? Common behavioral traps that turn good product managers bad




Software in 30 Days


Book Description

A radical approach to getting IT projects done faster andcheaper than anyone thinks possible Software in 30 Days summarizes the Agile and Scrumsoftware development method, which allows creation of game-changingsoftware, in just 30 days. Projects that use it are three timesmore successful than those that don't. Software in 30 Daysis for the business manager, the entrepreneur, the productdevelopment manager, or IT manager who wants to develop softwarebetter and faster than they now believe possible. Learn how thisunorthodox process works, how to get started, and how to succeed.Control risk, manage projects, and have your people succeed withsimple but profound shifts in the thinking. The authors explain powerful concepts such as the art of thepossible, bottom-up intelligence, and why it's good to failearly—all with no risk greater than thirty days. The productivity gain vs traditional "waterfall" methods hasbeen over 100% on many projects Author Ken Schwaber is a co-founder of the Agile softwaremovement, and co-creator, with Jeff Sutherland, of the "Scrum"technique for building software in 30 days Coauthor Jeff Sutherland was cosigner of the Agile Manifesto,which marked the start of the Agile movement Software in 30 Days is a must-read for all managers andbusiness owners who use software in their organizations or in theirproducts and want to stop the cycle of slow, expensive softwaredevelopment. Programmers will want to buy copies for their managersand their customers so they will know how to collaborate to get thebest work possible.




User Stories Applied


Book Description

Thoroughly reviewed and eagerly anticipated by the agile community, User Stories Applied offers a requirements process that saves time, eliminates rework, and leads directly to better software. The best way to build software that meets users' needs is to begin with "user stories": simple, clear, brief descriptions of functionality that will be valuable to real users. In User Stories Applied, Mike Cohn provides you with a front-to-back blueprint for writing these user stories and weaving them into your development lifecycle. You'll learn what makes a great user story, and what makes a bad one. You'll discover practical ways to gather user stories, even when you can't speak with your users. Then, once you've compiled your user stories, Cohn shows how to organize them, prioritize them, and use them for planning, management, and testing. User role modeling: understanding what users have in common, and where they differ Gathering stories: user interviewing, questionnaires, observation, and workshops Working with managers, trainers, salespeople and other "proxies" Writing user stories for acceptance testing Using stories to prioritize, set schedules, and estimate release costs Includes end-of-chapter practice questions and exercises User Stories Applied will be invaluable to every software developer, tester, analyst, and manager working with any agile method: XP, Scrum... or even your own home-grown approach.




Product Management For Dummies


Book Description

Your one-stop guide to becoming a product management prodigy Product management plays a pivotal role in organizations. In fact, it's now considered the fourth most important title in corporate America—yet only a tiny fraction of product managers have been trained for this vital position. If you're one of the hundreds of thousands of people who hold this essential job—or simply aspire to break into a new role—Product Management For Dummies gives you the tools to increase your skill level and manage products like a pro. From defining what product management is—and isn't—to exploring the rising importance of product management in the corporate world, this friendly and accessible guide quickly gets you up to speed on everything it takes to thrive in this growing field. It offers plain-English explanations of the product life cycle, market research, competitive analysis, market and pricing strategy, product roadmaps, the people skills it takes to effectively influence and negotiate, and so much more. Create a winning strategy for your product Gather and analyze customer and market feedback Prioritize and convey requirements to engineering teams effectively Maximize revenues and profitability Product managers are responsible for so much more than meets the eye—and this friendly, authoritative guide lifts the curtain on what it takes to succeed.




The Guide to the Product Management and Marketing Body of Knowledge


Book Description

Setting the Standard for Product Management and Marketing Many of the leading voices in the product management profession collaborated closely with working product managers to develop The Guide to the Product Management and Marketing Body of Knowledge (the ProdBOK(r) Guide). This effort was enhanced by project management, user experience, and business analyst thought leaders who further defined and optimized several essential working relationships that improve product manager effectiveness. As a result of this groundbreaking collaboration within the product management community and across the adjoining professions, the ProdBOK Guide provides the most comprehensive view of product management and marketing as they apply to a wide range of goods and services. The resulting standard provides product managers with essential knowledge to improve the practice of product management and deliver organizational results. This edition of the ProdBOK Guide: Introduces a product management lifecycle for goods and services Encompasses and defines traditional product development processes such as waterfall, as well as newer approaches that fall under the Agile umbrella Illustrates the various inputs and outputs that product managers should consider at each phase of the product management lifecycle Highlights how to optimize the working relationship between product management professionals and our counterparts in the project, program, portfolio management, user experience, and business analyst communities Describes essential tools that product managers should be aware of and utilize as they work to create value for their Organizations The ProdBOK Guide represents an industry-wide effort to establish a standard for the practice of product management. The book was sponsored by the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM). Founded in 1998, AIPMM aims to help professionals like you attain a higher level of knowledge and enhance the results you bring to your organizations every day. About the Authors Greg Geracie is a recognized product management thought leader and the president of Actuation Consulting, a global provider of product management training, consulting, and advisory services to some of the world's most well-known organizations. Greg is the author of the global best seller Take Charge Product Management and led the development of the ProdBOK Guide as editor-in-chief. He is also an adjunct professor at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Steven D. Eppinger is professor of management science and innovation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management. Professor Eppinger teaches MIT's executive programs in product development and complex project management. He has co-authored a leading textbook, Product Design and Development (5th edition, 2012, McGraw-Hill), which is used by hundreds of universities around the worl




Product Lifecycle Management


Book Description

Product Lifecycle Management (2nd edition) explains what Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is, and why it's needed. It describes the environment in which products are developed, realised and supported, before looking at the basic components of PLM, such as the product, processes, applications, and people. The final part addresses the implementation of PLM, showing the steps of a project or initiative, and typical activities. This new and expanded edition of Product Lifecycle Management is fully updated to reflect the many advances made in PLM since the release of the first edition. It includes descriptions of PLM technologies and examples of implementation projects in industry. Product Lifecycle Management will broaden the reader’s understanding of PLM, nurturing the skills needed to implement PLM successfully and to achieve world-class product performance across the lifecycle. “A 20-year veteran of PLM, I highly recommend this book. A clear and complete overview of PLM from definition to implementation. Everything is there - reasons, resources, strategy, implementation and PLM project management.” Achim Heilmann, Manager, Global Technical Publications, Varian Medical Systems “Product Lifecycle Management is an important technology for European industry. This state-of-the art book is a reference for those implementing and researching PLM.” Dr. Erastos Filos, Head of Sector "Intelligent Manufacturing Systems", European Commission “This book, written by one of the best experts in this field, is an ideal complement for PLM courses at Bachelor and Master level, as well as a well-founded reference book for practitioners.” Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Sandor Vajna, University of Magdeburg, Germany “This comprehensive book can help drive an understanding of PLM at all levels – from CEOs to CIOs, and from professors to students – that will help this important industry continue to expand and thrive.” James Heppelmann, President and Chief Executive Officer, PTC “PLM is a mission-critical decision-making system leveraged by the world’s most innovative companies to transform their process of innovation on a continuous basis. That is a powerful value proposition in a world where the challenge is to get better products to the market faster than ever before. That is the power of PLM.” Tony Affuso, Chairman and CEO, Siemens PLM Software




Succeeding with Agile


Book Description

Proven, 100% Practical Guidance for Making Scrum and Agile Work in Any Organization This is the definitive, realistic, actionable guide to starting fast with Scrum and agile-and then succeeding over the long haul. Leading agile consultant and practitioner Mike Cohn presents detailed recommendations, powerful tips, and real-world case studies drawn from his unparalleled experience helping hundreds of software organizations make Scrum and agile work. Succeeding with Agile is for pragmatic software professionals who want real answers to the most difficult challenges they face in implementing Scrum. Cohn covers every facet of the transition: getting started, helping individuals transition to new roles, structuring teams, scaling up, working with a distributed team, and finally, implementing effective metrics and continuous improvement. Throughout, Cohn presents "Things to Try Now" sections based on his most successful advice. Complementary "Objection" sections reproduce typical conversations with those resisting change and offer practical guidance for addressing their concerns. Coverage includes Practical ways to get started immediately-and "get good" fast Overcoming individual resistance to the changes Scrum requires Staffing Scrum projects and building effective teams Establishing "improvement communities" of people who are passionate about driving change Choosing which agile technical practices to use or experiment with Leading self-organizing teams Making the most of Scrum sprints, planning, and quality techniques Scaling Scrum to distributed, multiteam projects Using Scrum on projects with complex sequential processes or challenging compliance and governance requirements Understanding Scrum's impact on HR, facilities, and project management Whether you've completed a few sprints or multiple agile projects and whatever your role-manager, developer, coach, ScrumMaster, product owner, analyst, team lead, or project lead-this book will help you succeed with your very next project. Then, it will help you go much further: It will help you transform your entire development organization.