Linda Gorchels blogs

Product managers in May 2020 live in a different world than they did a year ago. We all do. But we can still use logic in making decisions. It starts with hindsight, insight, and foresight.

Hindsight, Insight, Foresight

Hindsight, insight, and foresight are interrelated components of customer and product knowledge. Hindsight is the exploration of the past; it’s the collection of data about sales history, purchase behavior, and ecosystem changes. Hindsight answers the question, what happened?

Insight is looking for patterns that help explain what has happened (in the past) and what is currently happening (in the present). Insight answers the questions, why are things happening the way they are, and why did things happen the way they did in the past?… Read the rest

Will the current pandemic change the profession of product management?

That’s an open question. But here are some thought starters.

Design Futures Council Australia had the following post on LinkedIn.

It may be a bit of dark humor, but it raises a good point. The pandemic is transforming businesses and jobs at an unprecedented rate.

Universities had been “dabbling with” online learning for decades with mixed progress. But now most have been forced to offer the bulk of education digitally.

Hundreds of millions of people are suddenly working remotely rather than from a business office. While the productivity cannot be accurately assessed due to the complexity of issues related to sheltering-in-place, the fact remains it’s happening.

Millions of people have lost their jobs, and many will need to find new positions in a brave new world.… Read the rest

Product managers are often likened to CEOs of their product lines. While the analogy isn’t perfect, it provides some rationale for learning from CEOs. What specifically? Leadership, strategy, and influence come to mind.

I was thinking about that as I listened to a radio show about Jack Welch after he passed away on March 1, 2020 at the age of 84. Fortune Magazine had dubbed him “manager of the century” in 1999. He had been credited with turning around an iconic American company in the 1980s. But critics also say “the seeds of GE’s downfall were planted under his tenure.” There’s some truth to both.

Let’s delve into that a bit

Jack Welch took over at GE shortly before the 1980s bull market.… Read the rest

In a world that’s always evolving, magic bullets or best practices don’t guarantee product management success. They’re all about what worked in the past. In a specific context. Some have anchors, and others have wings.

Note the words I used in the title. Defy best practices. I didn’t suggest ignoring best practices, but defying them. Exceptional product managers understand best practices and learn from them. But they don’t fall prey to them. They aren’t afraid to challenge and change those that are obsolete or only habits.

Think about the best practices you’ve seen in your career. Stage-gate product development. Agile. Globalization. Nationalism. Economies of scale. Spin-off start-ups. Design thinking. Re-engineering. Net Promoter Score. Six Sigma. Lean. And dozens more. Did they all work well for you?… Read the rest

It’s been 25 years since I published the first edition of The Product Manager’s Handbook (now in its 4^th edition).

A lot has changed during that time. Product management has become more mainstream (even though role discrepancies still exist). Technical product management has exploded. Unprecedented information is available from books, seminars and online sources.

But a lot has stayed the same. Product managers still face a major dilemma of matrix management: influencing without authority. There continues to be confusion about the differences between product managers, project managers, and product owners. I keep reading articles and blogs suggesting that product managers must become business and customer advocates, beyond being product activists. (That’s been a common refrain as long as I can remember!)

Beyond that, here are a few trends product managers should pay attention to during the 2020s.… Read the rest

I saw a recent Quora question that asked: “What are all the different types of product managers?” ALL of them? I’ve never seen a legitimate list. So, I created one.

Here are a bunch of categories (acknowledging some overlap between them). And I guarantee I didn’t list ALL of them.

By product/industry sector

Online articles about product management might lead you to believe that all positions are now digital. It’s true that technology is increasingly affecting the product landscape from AI to IoT. Yet not every job requires coding. Other knowledge and experience are more relevant for different products in diverse industries.

My client interactions are just the tip of the iceberg, but I have worked with product managers handling:

·       medical devices, equipment, consumables

·       slurry pumps

·       engines

·       commercial equipment

·       HVAC

·       financial services

·       consumer packaged goods

·       automotive parts and accessories

·       pharmaceuticals

·       agricultural products

·       technology

·       games & recreational offerings

And this is just a partial list.… Read the rest

During corporate training sessions, I often ask attendees for their workshop expectations. One product manager wanted to learn how to think like a product manager. 

To think like a product manager is to think like an entrepreneur.

Neither have complete control

Let’s expand on that a bit. While people may argue that entrepreneurs have more control over everything than do product managers, the reality is just the opposite. It is the rare entrepreneur who is wealthy, with easy access to materials, operations, and labor. Entrepreneurs, like product managers, are hands-on tinkers and testers.

Persuasive investment proposals 

Most entrepreneurs are passionate about their product or service. They have a vision but need resources to actualize the vision. They must craft business plans to solicit money from venture capitalists or banks.… Read the rest

There are many types of product managers in diverse industries. Yet, there are commonalities that bind them together.  A few guidelines keep popping up in many articles. Here are those rules every product manager should follow, the Ten Commandments.

The Product Managers’ Ten Commandments

As a product manager, thou shalt…

I. Master customer insights

The cornerstone of your product strategy is the ability to attract and keep high-equity customers. Even though product is in your job title, your most important role is to create benefits for (the “right”) users. Who are the most important consumers and why? How are the most important customers different from those who are more short-term or opportunistic?

II. Focus on outcomes

Start with the end in mind.… Read the rest

We’ve all heard that product managers are “mini CEOs”—or words to that effect. They have to influence a lot of stakeholders. To do so, they have to be credible. How can you build credibility? Roll up your sleeves and earn it. Here are a few ideas to help you.

Do Your Homework

Product managers deal with strategies and tactics. Big-picture issues and small details. Broad market demands and individual customer nuances. Internal politics and external realities. It’s hard work, and cutting corners rarely succeeds. Relevant information on customers, product plans, and financial projections are staples of your job. 

Industry knowledge is a must. Learn the broad “rules” in your industry, along with detailed knowledge of competitive positions. Pay attention to trends that could impact current and future product sales.… Read the rest