The reading summarizes the role of product managers in a way that aligns closely with my prior understanding and observations. I agree with its conclusion that navigating through ambiguity is a central challenge for product managers. I would like to share my experiences to discuss how I perceive the role of a product manager. During my internship as a product manager, I often received conceptual or somewhat vague product objectives. Most of the details remained obscure until extensive research was undertaken. When facing this type of ambiguity, the key task was to extract the essentials, organize the work, and establish clear roadmap and timeline. This process required a deep understanding of all the relevant aspects of the product. As the reading points out, product management needs a consideration of user experience, technical feasibility, and business objectives. In making plans for the entire team, a product manager must maintain a holistic view of the entire process to ensure its smooth execution. Occasionally, the plan details may not be visionary, but a product manager must be the connector and motivator for the team to advance according to the plan.
Beyond individual tasks, during the execution phase for example, product managers must demonstrate strong communication and alignment skills. The ability to collaborate with a diverse team ensures that each member is working toward the same goal. It is crucial for a product manager, often perceived as the team leader, to motivate members and foster a comfortable working environment. The primary duty is to ensure that everything goes on the right track and follows the timeline, making adjustments when unexpected issues arise. However, product managers have limited authority. During my summer internship, I had to communicate my expectations and objectives to experienced engineers, which was usually challenging. While I possessed basic engineering knowledge, I did not have a complete grasp of the technical aspects required to achieve our goals. Effective communication regarding expectations and technical feasibility was key to successfully launching the product. Product managers cannot force every member to achieve every goal. The pressure could be overwhelming, since the success of a product depends on multiple factors, and the process appears to be out of control sometimes.
I once had a conversation with a startup owner who mentioned that his company did not have product managers. He explained that his company was small, and all the engineers communicated effectively. This raises the question of whether the role of a product manager is replaceable or unnecessary, especially in an era of rapid AI development. Furthermore, it makes me consider how we, as product managers, can make ourselves indispensable and what the essential skills are required for this purpose.
