Product managers’ role is to figure out “What the product must do.” What markets, what products, what specifications, what price, what cost. The answers to the “Whats” are product strategy. Product engineers, on the other hand, must figure out ‘How to make the product.” How to meet the specifications, how to allocate requirements to subsystems, how to make design trade-off decisions, how to achieve the cost targets. The answers to the “Hows” are product design strategy.
It also takes large cross-functional teams to successfully develop and introduce a new product. Scientists, engineers, marketers, suppliers, and more all have to work together. This guide will show you how product managers can help ensure successful product development programs.