Product Development: The Essential Part of Your Software Product Manager Role

Abstract

This chapter describes in detail the Product Development dimension that represents “The Essential Part of the Software Product Manager Role.” Without a product, Software Product Management is not required. The product is the reason for the department’s and the product team’s existence. In that sense, this PYPR dimension is truly essential. In this chapter, I will focus on key concepts and proven practices that will help you as a product manager to be more successful. The focus will be on the role of the product manager, and how to leverage PYPR as a framework to instill a holistic product perspective—the main focus of this book. The role of the product manager is to lead the team to an aligned product vision and strategy, plan the product activities to achieve the vision and support the execution toward the product vision. PYPR helps clarifying to everyone the elements that matter to achieve a viable product over and above the Product Development dimension. By doing so, PYPR clarifies Software Product Management’s contribution to product success and longevity. This dimension requires a product manager that leads product development, provides transparency, and has clear communication paired with empathy. If I’m adding team performance and team culture to the mix, and not leaving out product quality, then we complete the Product Development dimension and the focus of this chapter.