Individual Reflection

Coming into this class, I expected three key things: (1) to explore some fundamentals of product management, (2) to engage closely with my teammates and manage interpersonal dynamics, and (3) to develop a meaningful product with potential for real-world success. I think these goals were broadly achieved, although there were some surprises along the way!

On product fundamentals, I felt I entered the class with a solid grasp of what product management was at a high level, especially having been a product management intern over the summer. I found that though I was familiar with most of the concepts, the use of physical diagramming and ideating was beneficial. Brainstorming using sticky notes, creating paper value proposition canvases, and mind-mapping various ideas solidified the understanding of the product and the fundamentals behind it. Moreover, the “touchy-feely” lesson was particularly valuable. I left that lecture with a greater appreciation for intentional communication between individuals on a professional level. I do wish that there was more time to dive deeper into some of the topics (e.g. road mapping, feedback) as I felt some more practice would ingrain the ideas more.

Regarding interpersonal dynamics, the group project was an interesting challenge. I initially believed it would be easy to work together because our team got along well, but even with people who like each other, it may be difficult to produce the highest quality work. We had some discussions mid-quarter on how to better work as a team which allowed me to reflect on my own interactions with the team. Afterward, we all definitely learned to be more mindful of our communication and how to better distribute our effort. If given more time, I would definitely like to continue working with our team to see how we can continue building each other up and build a great product.

Lastly, we definitely iterated on our concept a few times with our actual product and were all initially excited about the product. However, I recognize that there may have been room for sharper pivots from our original idea. I firmly believe our current product is good, but had we been more open to risk, or at the very least more aggressively explore some risky options, better ideas may have come out of our customer discovery. In future teams, I will more strongly consider other ideas, incorporate new information quicker, and be, slightly, more risk-tolerant. Overall, this course was helpful, especially as a first go-around!