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Making It Right: Product Management For A Startup World
Product management is one of the most exhausting, exhilarating, stressful, and rewarding careers out there. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s for people who want to move mountains. It swallows some whole, but others derive endless invigoration and passion from the pace and the impact and the glory and the huge potential for failure as well as success. There’s no other job like it, and this is a book to help you make it your job. The role of a product manager goes by many different names — and if that’s not reason enough to be confused, some companies define product manager completely differently from how it’s understood elsewhere. We sometimes get stuck in our quest to define the damn thing, but in the case of product management, it’s effort well spent, because it’s quite the jungle out there.
196 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 10, 2015
What does it take to get a product right? Not only when you’re the sole developer/designer/mind behind it, but when you’ve been hired or need to hire someone to manage the product because it’s simply bigger than you can run.
What if you have many products and need to have them all run well?
That’s where a product manager comes in to play, and this book is all about what it takes to be a good product manager.
It starts by walking us through the personality traits and demeanour that should be in evidence in a good product manager. Of course not everyone is well suited to the positions (just as not anyone can be everything) so this start is a great way to help you establish what it’s going to take to find a good product manager.
The second section is all about what it takes to build a good product plan from wireframes, to when you get developers involved (hint: the same time as the designers and UX people), to how you build a roadmap and balance all the competing voices as you decide on feature priority.
The third section walks you through how to execute that roadmap by being productive. One of my favourite parts here is the stance on meetings which, according to the author, should not just be to updated someone down the chain. Updates are what Wiki’s, blogs, or project management systems are for.
The book finishes off with a roadmap of what you should be doing for the first 90 days as you start a product management position. It breaks this up in to 3 sections of 30 days, and gives you the tools to hit the ground running as you start that new position.
In short, this is a great book for anyone working on a product even if you’re not the product manager. At least you’ll know how things should be running after reading it.
What if you have many products and need to have them all run well?
That’s where a product manager comes in to play, and this book is all about what it takes to be a good product manager.
It starts by walking us through the personality traits and demeanour that should be in evidence in a good product manager. Of course not everyone is well suited to the positions (just as not anyone can be everything) so this start is a great way to help you establish what it’s going to take to find a good product manager.
The second section is all about what it takes to build a good product plan from wireframes, to when you get developers involved (hint: the same time as the designers and UX people), to how you build a roadmap and balance all the competing voices as you decide on feature priority.
The third section walks you through how to execute that roadmap by being productive. One of my favourite parts here is the stance on meetings which, according to the author, should not just be to updated someone down the chain. Updates are what Wiki’s, blogs, or project management systems are for.
The book finishes off with a roadmap of what you should be doing for the first 90 days as you start a product management position. It breaks this up in to 3 sections of 30 days, and gives you the tools to hit the ground running as you start that new position.
In short, this is a great book for anyone working on a product even if you’re not the product manager. At least you’ll know how things should be running after reading it.
July 24, 2014
The thing that struck me immediately was the way the book STARTS OUT by focusing on the character traits and people skills that a PM needs. Usually these skills are treated as an afterthought in books like this, if they're even dealt with at all. Rian continues to highlight the importance of these skills throughout the book, in a practical, useful way.
The book is an easy read, but by no means simplistic. It's written in a conversational style, and really, it feels a whole lot like having a mentor to help you along. I finished the book with a clear understanding of what a product manager is, and what role they fulfil.
The other thing that stood out to me was that the book is incredibly balanced. Rian spends time highlighting all the elements of the digital product environment: user needs, business goals, and technical constraints, and there's a sense that he is realistic and positive, but not idealistic about what can be achieved by a PM or digital team.
He cites plenty of resources throughout the book, giving the reader ample additional material to work through from a wide range of fields, not just digital design. Plenty of these resources are going to be useful in my own work (content strategy), so their value is not limited to product managers.
I recommend this book, not just for product managers and aspiring product managers, but also for those who, like me, work under the leadership of PMs. You will gain an appreciation for the entire process they are facilitating, and you'll pick up a bunch of useful tools and resources as well.
The book is an easy read, but by no means simplistic. It's written in a conversational style, and really, it feels a whole lot like having a mentor to help you along. I finished the book with a clear understanding of what a product manager is, and what role they fulfil.
The other thing that stood out to me was that the book is incredibly balanced. Rian spends time highlighting all the elements of the digital product environment: user needs, business goals, and technical constraints, and there's a sense that he is realistic and positive, but not idealistic about what can be achieved by a PM or digital team.
He cites plenty of resources throughout the book, giving the reader ample additional material to work through from a wide range of fields, not just digital design. Plenty of these resources are going to be useful in my own work (content strategy), so their value is not limited to product managers.
I recommend this book, not just for product managers and aspiring product managers, but also for those who, like me, work under the leadership of PMs. You will gain an appreciation for the entire process they are facilitating, and you'll pick up a bunch of useful tools and resources as well.
August 20, 2015
A great book to quickly go over what's expected of a product manager, what goes into their work, their responsibilities and the expected documents they need to write. Lists different opinions from different people on some methodologies and tools used in the process of defining, planning and executing on the plan to build a product including the author's opinion and what he thinks based on his experience. The case studies are easy to digest and state clear action items they did while working with some company.
December 30, 2015
A great starting book for budding product managers in the technology industry. Provides useful background and practical framework for basic product management.
Follows the renowed product-market fit principle. Considers the users, revenue-generating, and technology aspects of a product. Leans toward practical over innovative products.
Recommended as a primer, but reader has to avail of supplementary materials and related books for in-depth knowledge. Best juxtaposed with Peter Thiel's Zero to One
Follows the renowed product-market fit principle. Considers the users, revenue-generating, and technology aspects of a product. Leans toward practical over innovative products.
Recommended as a primer, but reader has to avail of supplementary materials and related books for in-depth knowledge. Best juxtaposed with Peter Thiel's Zero to One
December 13, 2014
Fabulous book. It gives a very clear and concise message about what it is, what it REALLY is to be a Product Manager. There was no fluff talk, no boring things that didn't matter just pure good content. It's a great book that I'll probably read again because I didn't get to read all of the links yet and I probably should take some notes. As a Designer who has worked with Project Managers and Developers etc. it all made a lot of sense to me. Thanks Rian for writing an awesome book!
November 29, 2015
I read this book from the point of view of a startup founder wearing many hats (developer, entrepreneur, but maybe most importantly, product owner).
While many of the tips in the book are clearly aimed at larger organizations than our three-man team, I gained insight and some good reminders on how to make sure we build the right product and make it great.
While many of the tips in the book are clearly aimed at larger organizations than our three-man team, I gained insight and some good reminders on how to make sure we build the right product and make it great.
April 12, 2016
This is a brief volume but I savored every page - highlighting and taking notes. PMs in the industry say this is their bible, and I'm fairly sure it will become mine as I begin a new career in product management. The author's practical, down-to-earth approach strips away most "approaches" that require special training courses and certifications. This is just the best, most essential stuff.
July 24, 2014
Indeed a nice and focused book, with very specific ways you can become (or improve) a product manager. It have nice examples and techniques that can get you started, and a very nice last chapter that gives you a recipe for you first 90 days as a product manager.
November 24, 2014
Not only a great start-from-scratch guide to product management, but full of enough personal insights and practical advice to provide value for those already familiar with the role. Highly recommended.
April 26, 2015
This is like Product Management 101. Very useful. Offers a good overview of what a product manager does and how they should do it.
June 1, 2015
This is a pretty good overview of what a product manager does and how they can work with the rest of the company
January 21, 2024
Overall, the material is a bit derivative and repeats what has been said better elsewhere, but the author knows his reader, who is a T-shaped person that wants to be an I-shaped person, which is a great description of the product-people. The material felt fresh and urgent to me, not academic or technical –– "here is a framework you can use!" Instead, Van Der Merwe blends personal anecdotes with the oft-told tales of products years past and comes up with compelling insights about the right attitude that can give you an edge in your product career. Even if you are not fully product, you will appreciate the insights. Read it!
May 7, 2018
A boon and comfort to the accidental product manager
I have recently found myself in a PM role without really knowing what I need to be doing. This book was recommended by a colleague and I found it to be an excellent primer. The resources cited in end notes are helpful, and the book itself is clear and just the right length. By halfway through, I had learned where there was overlap between my existing skill set and what I needed to start doing, and I had identified what I needed to learn to become a better PM.
I have recently found myself in a PM role without really knowing what I need to be doing. This book was recommended by a colleague and I found it to be an excellent primer. The resources cited in end notes are helpful, and the book itself is clear and just the right length. By halfway through, I had learned where there was overlap between my existing skill set and what I needed to start doing, and I had identified what I needed to learn to become a better PM.
October 20, 2017
Good nuggets, but fairly lightweight
It's a great book for a high-level overview of the product management process, with a few good nuggets and reminders for seasoned product managers.
Though the boom focuses very specifically on build web experiences, which, while not bad, takes a very narrow view on product management as a whole.
Overall, it's a well-written book that's great to skim, but won't go into too much detail.
It's a great book for a high-level overview of the product management process, with a few good nuggets and reminders for seasoned product managers.
Though the boom focuses very specifically on build web experiences, which, while not bad, takes a very narrow view on product management as a whole.
Overall, it's a well-written book that's great to skim, but won't go into too much detail.
December 31, 2018
A lot of great processes, tools, and advice in this book (though quite a bit is obvious or a no brainer if you’ve been a PM for a while). One thing repeated in the book is that you don’t need to do ALL of it - just what makes sense for your team and product. It’s easy to lose sight of that and want to do it all anyway. Overall, I wish I read this earlier in my career, and I will probably read it again or at least use it as a reference for some of the ideas/exercises. Good stuff.
June 23, 2019
Avery good introductory guide on product management. It's also a good refresher for anyone who has been a product manager. Highly recommend it for anyone building digital products, even if you are just building a blog, this is a good guide on the process of developing, designing and continuous improvement of that product.
October 29, 2021
A great book for to be PM’s. Probably a bit to shallow for the ones already into the profession, but can serve as a reminder to keep you true to the gospel.
Liked the step by step approach provided and was clear in what it meant for a user.
Definitely worth a read, also a short one that sticks to the core focus.
Liked the step by step approach provided and was clear in what it meant for a user.
Definitely worth a read, also a short one that sticks to the core focus.
January 10, 2023
An excellent look at what qualities and attributes it takes to be a great or product manager. Packed with several great tips, templates, and case studies, I will definitely be keeping this one on the shelf for reference. Great for anyone interested in product that wants to grasp the full picture of the PM role. Highly recommend!
December 15, 2020
Gives a clear idea of the product management role. I was always bothered by many teams preaching collaboration and continuing to use Microsoft Word :P Glad to see this factor mentioned. Planning to reread occasionally to refresh the core tenets of product management.
February 2, 2017
Great insights
Great insights and a good way to ramp up the thought process around Product Management. Worth the read for sure!
Great insights and a good way to ramp up the thought process around Product Management. Worth the read for sure!
December 10, 2017
Great blueprint to create a product management role at your company.
March 6, 2018
A good book about product strategy and development
April 27, 2019
The illustrations were generally unreadable In the paperback version that I purchased, but the content is solid and quite useful. I will be looking at the authors blog next.
January 1, 2021
Very practical book
A good first book for anyone just starting into product Mgmt and an awesome refresher for the experienced . To the point and less fluff.
A good first book for anyone just starting into product Mgmt and an awesome refresher for the experienced . To the point and less fluff.
February 23, 2016
Essential reading
Great overview of Product Management, taking you through the process from start to finish. Relevant to all industries and across consumer and enterprise products.
Great overview of Product Management, taking you through the process from start to finish. Relevant to all industries and across consumer and enterprise products.
December 2, 2016
Good book
Good book for those wanting to move from UX to product management. Some of the things the author mentions seem to be opinions rather than documented observations. But generally speaking good book.
Good book for those wanting to move from UX to product management. Some of the things the author mentions seem to be opinions rather than documented observations. But generally speaking good book.
February 18, 2024
This book exposed me to the topic.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews