Trends Report

Product Managers Are Working On The Wrong Things

Inbound Tasks Must Take Priority

July 18th, 2008
Tom Grant, Ph.D., null
Tom Grant, Ph.D.
With contributors:
Peter Burris , Christina Lee

Summary

In the technology industry, product management has a unique, strategic responsibility that is not shared with anyone else in the company: matching product and market requirements to decisions about products and services. Unfortunately, product managers do not focus enough on this core responsibility. For technology companies to get the most out of their product managers, they need to focus on the strategic inbound tasks instead of being distracted by too many tactical demands. Additionally, technology companies need to hire or cultivate product managers who have the skills and experiences necessary to produce high-quality product management deliverables — not something that anyone can do without training. Companies that make these product management reforms will be more competitive and better able to use product management deliverables to make better strategic decisions.

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