Some Technical Product Manager / Program Manager : Skill & Responsibilities

Some Technical Product Manager / Program Manager
Skills & Responsibilities

Peter Montgomery’s views August 2002

Design* Methods and Practices

Understand different ways design problems can be approached, and the way different teams are constructed. Have this information at one’s fingertips for dealing with different situations.

Design Analysis

Have the rigorous ability to analyze a given design proposal to see whether it addresses the problem at hand. The ability to illicit analysis input from a team. Essentially the standard steps for switching seamlessly between brainstorm vs. analysis, or right-brain vs. left-brain processes. This skill is needed in order to design something well.

Team Building

A big chunk of what a good Project Manager does: Active-listening, connecting people with each other, creating strong team morale, reinforcing positive outcomes, inventing team slogans, leading by example, etc.

Problem Solving

Have the ability to fearlessly search for solutions. Don’t get stuck with second best: Ability to toss out hours of work if it is not the correct solution. Never stop improving things. Bring the best minds to the problem.

Project Management

Schedule, budget, and communicate. Always keep both the critical path and the long-term goal in mind. Achieve excellent communication of milestones and progress with all stakeholders.

Project Delivery

Have a commitment to (and ability to produce) tangible project results; and the ability to deliver projects on time, on-specification, and on budget.

Project-Portfolio Management

Evaluate and recommend cross-project, cross-team issues, return on investment, staffing, time to marketing, and other portfolio issues.

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* By design I mean the design of things, systems, and process (visual design is a small sub-item).