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The New Product Manager: How to work effectively with engineering team

November 15th, 2008 · Comments

  • Write detailed, thorough product requirements.
  • Be consistent — some product managers change their mind a lot. As a result, engineering has to change what they just implemented. Unless there is some strong reason to change the requirement, you should try to stick to what you propose initially, and be consistent. It will save engineering a lot of headache, and help you build your relationship with engineering.
  • Produce a roadmap with vision — engineering management need you to help inspire the engineers. Engineers want to know the product vision, strategy and goals behind product roadmap.
  • Seek to listen, understand and engage in constructive discussions and debate.

Do you have any tips and lessons to share? Leave a comment.

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Tags: Career Transition · Get Project Done · Product Management

Viewing 2 Comments

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    • v
    Very good advice here - especially for new project managers. I learned quite a lot - thank you!
    • ^
    • v
    Look into the Scrum process. Some consider it to be somewhat magical. I consider it to be just common sense or common wisdom that anyone making products should do. The two new things I think it provides are the discipline to do those common sense things and the concept of getting sign-off from others for a 4-6 week plan.

    Having a plan with a goal provides the team with something like a mini-release every few weeks. Everyone who has released a piece of software knows the morale gained by that release event. Imagine having something like that every 4-6 weeks. What 'customers' get out of the process is predictability in what they will get at the end of the cycle.

    Now, you do have to get sign-off on your plans from customers, management, and the team. That can be difficult in an environment where ideas for plans change every day.

    Ted
 

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