» 3 tenets of product ops: insights, research, and processes & practices

» Product ops is about enablement and coaching, not a rebrand of the product owner or product marketer roles

» Product ops is the ‘glue’ that binds different business functions and product focus areas together

» Product ops enables product teams to achieve better outcomes

» A product manager works at the intersection between business, technology and user experience

» A product manager is not a replacement for absent specialists

» The product manager is accountable for ensuring the solution is both valuable and viable

» Product managers use their knowledge of user needs and business goals to frame problems and set priorities for their delivery teams

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla conducting at the BBC Proms 2020 (Credit: BBC)

Product managers are sometimes referred to as the conductor of the orchestra. Some people think that the conductor’s job is to direct the players, to lead them through the music. That would be to misunderstand the relationship. Instead, here’s a different take.

Compared to when I started out in product management, we’re a lot better at defining what a product manager does. It’s always worth a reminder, so I’d like to share with you a talk I gave last summer, What does a product manager do (and not do)?