Phiên bản tiếng Việt ở đây bạn nhé!
As mentioned in my bio, my main job is Product Management. For those of you working in the technology industry, this job may not be new or unfamiliar. However, for those outside the industry or those who are new and want to join, there may be many questions. In this article, you and I will explore what a product is and what Product Management is.
What is a product?
Pause for a moment and look around. From the coffee cup on the table, the clothes you wear, the shoes you have on, or the phone/tablet/laptop you are holding, to the Google Chrome/Safari browser you are surfing or even this website itself, they are all products. So what is a product?
Sản phẩm là bất kỳ vật phẩm vật lý (physical) hoặc kỹ thuật số (digital) nào được tạo ra hoặc thiết kế để đáp ứng nhu cầu hoặc giải quyết một vấn đề cho khách hàng.
- Product là gì?
As the example above shows, a product can be anything from food, clothing, household items, to complex applications, software such as macOS, Windows. A product can be tangible (you can touch, feel, and hold it) or intangible (a service or an experience package).
Within the scope of this article and blog, the products mentioned are software products and services in the field of information technology.
What is Product Management?
Currently, there are many different definitions, perspectives, and schools of thought about Product Management in general and the Product position in particular. You can find out more from articles on platforms like Medium, or from large companies in the industry like Google, Facebook, etc.
The following content is my own perspective, which has been developed over nearly 10 years in the industry. For me, it is the foundation and continuous use throughout the work process, from building a career path, building a team, interviewing, evaluating,… Related articles later, if any, will be partly based on this perspective.
Creating a product involves a series of activities, including market research, product design, development, testing, operation, deployment,… to meet customer needs and promote business development. The entire process is called Product Management.
Based on the nature, skills, and stakeholders involved, Product Management can be divided into 3 parts:
- Product Development / Build
- Product Operation
- Product Growth / Biz
In the upcoming articles, I will explain in detail the nature of each part, as well as the necessary skills for working effectively in each phase.
Who is a Product Owner?
The person responsible for one or several stages is called a ‘Product Guy’.
In Vietnam, there are many definitions of ‘Product Guy’. Each company has a different job title and scope. Therefore, you need to carefully research the job description before applying. I often ask candidates how they understand the job and why they chose this direction before delving into their work experience.
Due to the influence of the widely applied Scrum / Agile model, I will use the term ‘Product Owner / PO’ to refer to the ‘Product Guy’ in this article and in the future.
You can also see some other definitions of this position below.
See more definitions of Product Owner
- Definition 1 - The Product Owner is the person responsible for maximizing the value of the product from the work of the Scrum Team, and to do this, the PO needs to work with the Scrum Team and other departments in the organization. (1)- Definition 2 - The Product Owner is a member of the product development team. The PO attends daily Scrum meetings and evaluates the priority level of items in the Product Backlog. The PO needs to ensure that the Development Team can work effectively and achieve their goals. (2)
- Definition 3 - The Product Owner acts as a representative and defends the interests of customers to the Development Team. (3)
- Definition 4 - The Product Owner supervises, coordinates work, and is responsible for answering questions from the Development Team. (4)
- Definition 5 - The Product Owner is the owner of the product, acting as a mini-CEO and having the authority to make all decisions related to the product to achieve the organization's business goals. (5)
- Definition... - Well, five definitions are too many, let's stop here.
Source:
- (1) scrum.org
- (2), (3), (4) productplan.com
- (5) itviec.com
Conclusion
- A product is any physical or digital item created or designed to meet a customer’s needs or solve a problem.
- The Product Owner / PO is responsible for the product and represents the customer’s voice in the organization.
- Product Management is crucial for the success of any business that wants to stay competitive in a fast-paced and constantly changing market. By focusing on customer needs and providing products that solve problems and meet customer demands, businesses can build a loyal customer base and differentiate themselves from their competitors.
- Product Management also helps businesses identify new market opportunities and outperform their competitors. By monitoring market trends and identifying emerging trends, the Product Owner can shape new product ideas and bring them to market before their competitors do.
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Product 101 - The article concludes by introducing the “Product 101” series of articles, which provide basic knowledge about product management, methods for managing products, and the necessary skills to create successful products that meet customer needs. If you’re passionate about learning and want to succeed in the product field, this is the article series for you.
