TLDR PRODUCT MANAGEMENT 2023-12-05

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EXISTING AND EMERGING SPECIALIZATIONS IN PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

There is a trend of increasing specialization in product management. Industry, technology, audience, product type, and skill are all different specializations that PMs can intentionally focus on as their careers progress.

THE SCIENCE OF GROWTH WITH SEAN ELLIS (45 MINUTE PODCAST)

Growth hacking is a systematic process focused on data analysis and testing across various aspects like acquisition, engagement, and retention. Sean Ellis’ approach underscores the importance of understanding customer needs, product-market fit, and aligning messaging with customer preferences for sustainable, long-term growth. He advocates for a cross-functional, data-driven culture, and applying these principles to both B2B and B2C products.

PRODUCT BACKLOG VS SPRINT BACKLOG – THE GRAND STRATEGY AND THE BATTLE PLAN

By separating out product backlog (i.e. what you could do) from sprint backlog (i.e. what you will do), you can create more space for both. This article defines these two different backlogs and gives actionable tips on how to use the backlogs together effectively.

(MIS)MEASURING PM PERFORMANCE

This thread critiques conventional performance metrics for product managers, using a scenario where two PMs handle a project differently to show how traditional measures like scope and impact can be subjective. It proposes assessing PMs based on knowledge, teamwork, decision-making, and outcome contribution, questioning whether performance should be measured individually or at an organizational level.

HOW TO CHOOSE A STARTUP

This article outlines a hierarchy of considerations for individuals choosing a startup to join, emphasizing the importance of the company's stage, team quality, culture, metrics, role, and compensation. It advises readers to align their skills with what the company needs, prioritize a strong team and culture, and understand that equity and company performance play crucial roles in compensation in the startup environment.

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STRATEGIC THINKING FOR PRODUCT MANAGERS

The best strategic thinkers predict the future based on what they know today and make decisions based on that prediction. A good decision is one that strikes the right balance of risk and reward - they may not always have a successful outcome. This article gives a framework to make better decisions through 4 steps: identify the decision, analyze success, analyze failure, and make the decision.

VALIDATED LEARNING IN STRATEGY: BRINGING LEAN-STARTUP THINKING TO THE CORPORATE STRATEGY WORLD

This article explores the evolution of the MVP concept in the context of corporate strategy, contrasting the lean startup approach with traditional top-down strategic planning. It suggests a hybrid approach that combines validated learning with strategic decision-making, emphasizing the importance of continuous validation of assumptions in strategy development. The article introduces the Strategy Value Chain framework, which encompasses strategy development, planning, cascading, and execution.

UNDERSTAND HOW A BUSINESS WORKS AND MAKES MONEY

A big part of a PM’s job is to understand how a business works and how a product impacts the different financial levers of a business. This article shares the risks of when PMs only focus on product production but forget about the business aspects.

AN ANALYSIS OF INVISION’S DOWNFALL AND THE POWER OF GOING DEEPER (1 HOUR PODCAST)

InVision's failure to evolve alongside the market led to its decline, overshadowed by Figma's deeper integration into the design process. Its decline is a lesson in the power of going deeper into the customer problem. This case highlights the importance of continuous innovation and adapting to changing market needs for product managers.

REFLECTING ON MY FIRST YEAR AT DATABRICKS

This piece dives into a PM Lead’s first year at Databricks. He spotlights the PM team's extraordinary seniority within the company and acknowledges the company's strengths while also identifying areas for improvement, including diversity and potential burnout challenges. The post reflects positively on Databricks, noting ongoing achievements in continual learning, team building, anticipation of an IPO, financial goals, and sustained high growth.

WHY BIG REDESIGNS FAIL

A big redesign usually takes a long time to ship but rarely turns out to be successful. Gravity of habit is a user psychology that is frequently overlooked in these redesigns. With the recent shifts in AI, more and more users will likely expect a shift to a new model where products can turn user intent into outcome, instead of requiring users to learn how to navigate designs and redesigns.

NAVIGATING THE PRODUCT LIFECYCLE: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

This article defines the different stages of the product life cycle: ideation, product development, market introduction, expansion, maturity, and saturation. It also highlights different approaches that will lead to effective product management across the different stages.

8 RULES FOR FLOW IN PRODUCT

Flow is a state in which people are so immersed in doing an activity that nothing else seems to matter. This article provides 8 rules that make it easier for users to get into a state of flow when they engage with a product.