Product Manager's Desk Reference
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ADVANCE PRAISE FOR THE PRODUCT MANAGER’S DESK REFERENCE The Product Manager’s Desk Reference is an encyclopedic refer- ence tool for product managers everywhere. The material is presented in an accessible, logical format with numerous useful templates and outlines. This book should be a prominent addition to every practicing manager’s library. —LINDA G ORCHELS, D IRECTOR, EXECUTIVE M ARKETING, UW–MADISON E XECUTIVE E DUCATION This book very accurately addresses the challenges I have faced dur- ing my time in product management. I only wish such a complete resource as The Product Manager’s Desk Reference had been available to guide me throughout my career. I believe that from now on, this book will stand as an important reference point for all prod- uct management teams. —MARK E LLIOTT, V ICE P RESIDENT P RODUCT M ANAGEMENT, SMITHS D ETECTION This book is the quintessential, comprehensive body of work on prod- uct management. It deserves a spot not only on the desk of every product manager, but within reach of every person involved in the creation, sales, or support of a product. —THERESE PADILLA, P RESIDENT, ASSOCIATION OF I NTERNATIONAL P RODUCT AND M ARKETING M ANAGEMENT Haines strikes the perfect balance between theory and practice, com- bining actionable, practical advice from his extensive professional experience with just the right amount of background for why product managers need to care about the underlying principles. This is an invaluable reference. —TOM S VRCEK, PH .D., M ANAGING D IRECTOR, C ORPORATE E XECUTIVE B OARD Avery readable, well-written book that contains significant insights and provides practical wisdom on the profession of product manage- ment. An excellent guide for any product manager or marketing professional. —JIM D OELL, V ICE P RESIDENT OF M ARKETING, TREMCO, INC. The Product Manager’s Desk Reference reflects Steven’s consid- erable experience and passion for product management. This book is a comprehensive work that is much more than a text book. Each section draws on Steven’s personal experience and includes insights into the “why” and “how”—questions that are critical to the successful prac- tice of product management. —BILL S HANNON, V ICE P RESIDENT–GMS PRODUCT L INE M ANAGEMENT, PITNEY B OWES G LOBAL M AILING S YSTEMS Agreat tool for every product manager… —DAVID P. H ILL, G ENERAL M ANAGER (AMERICAS), C HOMERICS D IVISION OF PARKER H ANNIFEN C ORPORATION Agreat reference tool for both new and experienced product managers as well as product management executives. —JULIA B AILEY, D IRECTOR, PRODUCT M ANAGEMENT, MARITZ The Product Manager’s Desk Reference is an essential resource for anyone in the product management field. Steven Haines covers this multifaceted topic in a systematic manner that makes the book easy to navigate. His groundbreaking proposal that product manage- ment become a formal discipline is an accurate reflection of the acute need for these skills in the business community. The book will help anyone raise their “Product Management Experience Quotient” and make them more effective in their job. It is a true reference book with useful templates and samples. I keep it near my desk for easy access. —DAN O’DAY, S ENIOR D IRECTOR P RODUCT M ANAGEMENT, THOMSON R EUTERS THE PRODUCT MANAGER’S DESK REFERENCE This page intentionally left blank THE PRODUCT MANAGER’S DESK REFERENCE STEVEN HAINES New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto Copyright © 2009 by Steven Haines. All rights reserved. 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This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Acknowledgments xxiii Introduction: The Accidental Profession xxvii MODULE 1 FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS FOR PRODUCT MANAGEMENT Introduction to Module 1 1 Chapter 1 What Is Product Management? 5 Question 1: What Is a Product? 6 Product Lines 7 Product Portfolios 8 Solutions and Bundles 9 Product Elements and Modules 12 Platforms 13 Question 2: What Is Management? 14 What Does a Product Manager Really Do? 15 Question 3: What Is Product Management? 18 Question 4: How Does Product Management Transform a Product? 20 New Product Planning Phases 21 New Product Introduction Phases (Execution) 22 Post-Launch Product Management 22 Product Management: A Holistic Activity 23 ix x CONTENTS Raising Your Product Management Experience Quotient (PMEQ) 26 Chapter 2 The Product Master Plan 29 The Purpose of a Master Plan 30 Plans Change 31 The Format of the Product Master Plan 32 The Value of a Product Master Plan 33 An Insurance Policy for Consistent Communication 35 The Basic Construction of the Product Master Plan 35 Major Documents Included in the Product Master Plan 38 APersonal Library 42 Summary 42 Raising Your Product Management Experience Quotient (PMEQ) 43 Chapter 3 Leadership: Creating Influence 45 You Are Always on Stage 48 Stay Calm, Even when Your Hair’s on Fire 48 Transformation 49 The Most Important Values 49 Leadership Behaviors and Mindset 51 Additional Skills and Subject Matter Expertise 55 Experiential Development 56 How Do You Improve Your Skills and Experiences? 57 Summary 58 Raising Your Product Management Experience Quotient (PMEQ) 59 Chapter 4 Cross-Functional Product Teams: Getting Things Done 61 Cross-Functional Team Definitions 62 Definition: A Culture of Discipline 63 Team Membership 65 Teaming Is Not Always Easy 66 Curing the Dysfunctional Team 68 Building Blocks of a Cross-Functional Product Team 69 CONTENTS xi Product Team Responsibilities 75 Forms of Cross-Functional Product Team Membership 75 Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities 76 The Functional Support Plan 78 Team Membership across the Life Cycle 79 Cross-Functional Team Leadership 80 Summary 81 Raising Your Product Management Experience Quotient (PMEQ) 81 Chapter 5 Decision Making: What’s