Let’s consider some characteristics of Product Management team in relatively large Software Development projects.

Why Product Management team

Why Product - the main focus is The Product

Why Management - Management here mostly means Software project management including leading, planning, execution, monitoring and control.

Why team - for big projects one Product Manager is not enough.

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Set the Product Vision and Strategy
  • Define Product hierarchy and Functional module structure and Product Deliverables
  • Develop and keep updated Product development Roadmap taking into account all technical and business aspects, including:
    • Requirement Management
    • Risk Management
    • Resource Management
    • Release Management etc
  • Monitor and control Feature Development and Product Releases (via Product Owners of Development Teams)
  • Customer negotiation and Customer satisfaction

Basic operation principles:

  • A number of Product Management team members is 5-7
  • Product Management team should operate as an ordinary Agile team (SM, PO, Planning, Grooming, Retrospective etc)
  • The members of Development teams can be promoted to Product Management team if they satisfy requirements (see below)
  • The goals of Product Management team must be prioritized among other activities
  • Product Management team involves Software Architecture team in the development of the Software Architecture and Module Structure (directly or via PO of the Software Architecture team)
  • Product Management team monitors and controls Feature Development and Product Releases (via POs of Development teams)
  • Product Management team organizes Cross-Functional and Cross-Domain teams
  • Product Owner in the Product Management team represents the Customer(s) and/or the Stakeholder(s)

Requirements:

  • Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills
  • Exceptional organizational and administrative skills
  • Expert knowledge in domain area
  • Experience in Project Management
  • Knowledge of Software Development processes, SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)
  • Good understanding of Feature Development and Release Management

References: