Comments on: Sweat the small stuff http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/ A blog with tips on product management and related topics. Written by Jeff Lash, a product manager in St. Louis, MO Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:14:56 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: preeliaQual http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-14155 preeliaQual Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:16:10 +0000 http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/#comment-14155 There was this guy see. He wasn't very bright and he reached his adult life without ever having learned "the facts". Somehow, it gets to be his wedding day. While he is walking down the isle, his father tugs his sleeve and says, "Son, when you get to the hotel room...Call me" Hours later he gets to the hotel room with his beautiful blushing bride and he calls his father, "Dad, we are the hotel, what do I do?" "O.K. Son, listen up, take off your clothes and get in the bed, then she should take off her clothes and get in the bed, if not help her. Then either way, ah, call me" A few moments later... "Dad we took off our clothes and we are in the bed, what do I do?" O.K. Son, listen up. Move real close to her and she should move real close to you, and then... Ah, call me." A few moments later... "DAD! WE TOOK OFF OUR CLOTHES, GOT IN THE BED AND MOVED REAL CLOSE, WHAT DO I DO???" "O.K. Son, Listen up, this is the most important part. Stick the long part of your body into the place where she goes to the bathroom." A few moments later... "Dad, I've got my foot in the toilet, what do I do?" There was this guy see.
He wasn’t very bright and he reached his adult life without ever having learned “the facts”.
Somehow, it gets to be his wedding day.
While he is walking down the isle, his father tugs his sleeve and says,

“Son, when you get to the hotel room…Call me”

Hours later he gets to the hotel room with his beautiful blushing bride and he calls his father,

“Dad, we are the hotel, what do I do?”

“O.K. Son, listen up, take off your clothes and get in the bed, then she should take off her clothes and get in the bed, if not help her. Then either way, ah, call me”

A few moments later…

“Dad we took off our clothes and we are in the bed, what do I do?”

O.K. Son, listen up. Move real close to her and she should move real close to you, and then… Ah, call me.”

A few moments later…

“DAD! WE TOOK OFF OUR CLOTHES, GOT IN THE BED AND MOVED REAL CLOSE, WHAT DO I DO???”

“O.K. Son, Listen up, this is the most important part. Stick the long part of your body into the place where she goes to the bathroom.”

A few moments later…

“Dad, I’ve got my foot in the toilet, what do I do?”

]]> By: werutzb http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-13339 werutzb Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:19:09 +0000 http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/#comment-13339 Hi! I want to improve my SQL experience. I red so many SQL books and want to read more about SQL for my occupation as oracle database manager. What can you recommend? Thanks, Werutz Hi!

I want to improve my SQL experience.
I red so many SQL books and want to
read more about SQL for my occupation as oracle database manager.

What can you recommend?

Thanks,
Werutz

]]> By: Jeff Lash http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6649 Jeff Lash Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:43:25 +0000 http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/#comment-6649 Mahes -- I'll admit that I've rarely heard the term "product audit." From what I'm aware of it, it's more of a quality assurance function, something like product acceptance testing that comes right at the end of the project. In my mind, this is more about just checking to see whether things were completed than evaluating whether they were done in the best way possible. There are many details in any product's design and development that require product management decisions. Paying attention to details is not project management -- project managers make sure that decisions get made, though they usually are less concerned with what the decision is so long as it keeps the project progressing well. I agree that a product manager should be involved in the entire lifecycle of a product, as you mention, and I would argue that ensuring the details are all attended to correctly is an important part of this lifecycle. Mahes — I’ll admit that I’ve rarely heard the term “product audit.” From what I’m aware of it, it’s more of a quality assurance function, something like product acceptance testing that comes right at the end of the project. In my mind, this is more about just checking to see whether things were completed than evaluating whether they were done in the best way possible.

There are many details in any product’s design and development that require product management decisions. Paying attention to details is not project management — project managers make sure that decisions get made, though they usually are less concerned with what the decision is so long as it keeps the project progressing well. I agree that a product manager should be involved in the entire lifecycle of a product, as you mention, and I would argue that ensuring the details are all attended to correctly is an important part of this lifecycle.

]]> By: Mahes Kumar http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6647 Mahes Kumar Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:22:28 +0000 http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/#comment-6647 By looking at the blog, I feel like the product management function is confused with the product audit function. The product audit is not the primary function of the product manager. However, product related documents should guide any auditor (SQA) to do a walk through of product. Ofcourse, product manager will be a person who should give the guidelines to anybody who engaged in such activities I agree that a product manager should be good project manager. However, the product managemer should be more into customer life cycle management than project management. I thought the role of a Product manager starts with opportunity for a product, visualizing the product requirements, closely working with the project team to materialize the product, launching of the product, be part of acquiring cutomers and to make them use the product, be with the customer and feel the product usage, timely upgrade, decommissioning of the product before outdating. In addition to this, he should always look ahead for the next version of the product. By looking at the blog, I feel like the product management function is confused with the product audit function. The product audit is not the primary function of the product manager. However, product related documents should guide any auditor (SQA) to do a walk through of product. Ofcourse, product manager will be a person who should give the guidelines to anybody who engaged in such activities

I agree that a product manager should be good project manager. However, the product managemer should be more into customer life cycle management than project management. I thought the role of a Product manager starts with opportunity for a product, visualizing the product requirements, closely working with the project team to materialize the product, launching of the product, be part of acquiring cutomers and to make them use the product, be with the customer and feel the product usage, timely upgrade, decommissioning of the product before outdating. In addition to this, he should always look ahead for the next version of the product.

]]> By: Shekhar http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-5485 Shekhar Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:53:27 +0000 http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/#comment-5485 I am afraid that the differentiation between product manager and project manager is incorrect. Having worked in both fields, I can say CoolNerd is describing a bad project manager. Although, I do not want digress and but I think it is important understand the differences and similarities two separate profession. Project management is all about details, a lot more details than product features. Lack of details and their management is one the causes of 80% of the project failure ( source- PMI). The difference between project management and product is that project is a short term effort with definite end. The primary objective of Project manager is to meet that definite end date (deadline) within means, and also meet the business/ project objective. Of course, product management manages the longer life cycle of the product. In doing so, product manager manages several projects throughout the life cycle of the product. In every product manager, there is a project manager. I am afraid that the differentiation between product manager and project manager is incorrect. Having worked in both fields, I can say CoolNerd is describing a bad project manager. Although, I do not want digress and but I think it is important understand the differences and similarities two separate profession.

Project management is all about details, a lot more details than product features. Lack of details and their management is one the causes of 80% of the project failure ( source- PMI). The difference between project management and product is that project is a short term effort with definite end. The primary objective of Project manager is to meet that definite end date (deadline) within means, and also meet the business/ project objective. Of course, product management manages the longer life cycle of the product. In doing so, product manager manages several projects throughout the life cycle of the product. In every product manager, there is a project manager.

]]> By: Product Management | CoolNerd http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-5202 Product Management | CoolNerd Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:46:53 +0000 http://www.goodproductmanager.com/2007/11/08/sweat-the-small-stuff/#comment-5202 [...] From what I gather, the primary difference between product and project management is that project management is focused on getting the project launched on time and within budget and oft times with no regard to what features are removed to get it launched.  However, for the product manager, the customers or users of the product take priority number one and they concern themselves with even the smallest of details.  Product managers realize that the cumulation of many small issues can make or break the site and cause users to stop using the product. [...] [...] From what I gather, the primary difference between product and project management is that project management is focused on getting the project launched on time and within budget and oft times with no regard to what features are removed to get it launched.  However, for the product manager, the customers or users of the product take priority number one and they concern themselves with even the smallest of details.  Product managers realize that the cumulation of many small issues can make or break the site and cause users to stop using the product. [...]

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