So, the summer is over and it’s time I came back and noted my observations once again.
First, it was interesting sitting on the side listening to the debate about the Microsoft PM and whether he is or isn’t really a PM. Suffice to say, how Microsoft defines product management is not what the really world does; but, I think the fault doesn’t lie with Microsoft here but rather all of you who weighed in on the topic who were applying your own vision to what the title means. You all seemed to forget that Microsoft has never followed convention, and reality and Microsoft rarely meet. Shame on you for forgetting that.
But, the issue raised an interesting topic. So, let’s take it to another level. Recently my company hired another one of me, a product manager focused on services not traditional products. (Our products are services.) The skill sets that I have versus this other person have are not the same. I have had PM responsibilites with software products (that all of the “experts” would agree is the more classical view of PM,) and the new person’s background is really more of a product marketing/mangement mix. But, we both have skill sets thast are relevant to the product lines we are manging. Does this make us qualified? Should we have more smiliar skills?
From the outside, whether it’s Microsoft, hard core PM skills or relvasnt product skills, I think what matters is not what the title is that you carry, but are you listening to your market and bringing their needs into the product.
