How To Be A Good Product Manager

Product Management Resources

This is a compilation of other resources to help you learn how to be a good product manager. If there are any other resources you think should be listed here, contact me and let me know. (I can't promise I'll list it here, but I'd love to hear about it.)

On this page:

• Recommended webinars ↓
• Recommended videos ↓
• Recommended articles ↓
• Recommended books ↓
• Recommended blogs ↓

Recommended product management webinars

I presented two webinars as part of The Product Management View: FeaturePlan webinar series.
• Ten Tips For New Product Managers: Recording and more information; Slides
• Ten Traits of Good Product Managers: Recording and more information; Slides
• Pragmatic Marketing has archived webinars and upcoming webinars

Recommended product management videos

• World Class Product Management Video: From Sequent Learning Networks, this 13-minute video "provides insight and perspective into what it means when an organization embraces the practice of product management not as a job title, but as a recognized business function, thus enabling the market focus and business acumen needed to inspire success."
• The Product Manager, from Office Space: From the classic movie Office Space comes this humorous and slightly-simplified spoof of what it is that product managers do.

Recommended product management articles

I've written a few articles on product management:

• Transitioning from User Experience to Product Management, Part 1
• Transitioning from User Experience to Product Management, Part 2

Other resources for product management articles:

• Articles from the Silicon Valley Product Group
• Articles from The 280 Group
• Articles from Daniel Shefer
• Articles from Blackblot
• Articles from Sequent Learning Networks

Recommended product management books

There are lots of good books on product management, but here are a few of my favorites:

• Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love by Marty Cagan: A fantastic overview of product management and product design concepts, divided into sections focusing on People, Process, and Product. Many of the chapters are variations of articles available on the SVPG web site, though revised and packaged as a cohesive guide. (Disclaimer: I helped provide Marty with feedback on this book prior to its publication, though I'd recommend it even if I hadn't!)
• Software Product Management Essentials by Alissa Dver: Though more appropriate for those working in smaller companies and new to product management, even experienced product managers in larger organizations will benefit from this concise and easy-to-read book.
• Expert Product Management: Advanced Techniques, Tips and Strategies for Product Management & Product Marketing by Brian Lawley: A very straightforward and concise text that provides excellent advice for a few key aspects of the product management role., including product roadmaps, beta programs, product launches, and review programs. Read more in my full review of this book, and you can purchase Expert Product Management as a paperback or ebook.
• Winning at New Products: Accelerating the Process from Idea to Launch, Third Edition by Robert Cooper: One of the best books ever written about new product development, from one of the best-known experts in new product development.
• Design and Marketing Of New Products (2nd Edition) by Glen Urban and John Hauser: Yes, it's old (1993), geared towards "traditional" (rather than technical or online) product management, and expensive, but it's a fantastic resource for learning about the product development process in great detail. I especially like the great sections on how to implement product development in an organization and possible organizational structures to utilize.
• Tuned In: Uncover the Extraordinary Opportunities That Lead to Business Breakthroughs by Craig Stull, Phil Myers, and David Meerman Scott: Though it is not specifically about the role of product management, it is one of the best books covering how to deliver products which resonate with the market. The Tuned In blog is a great supplement to the examples in the book, or for anyone looking for a quick introduction to the basic concepts.
• The Product Manager's Desk Reference by Steven Haines: Additional information, templates, sample content, and more is available on the Product Manager's Desk Reference web site.
• The Product Managers Handbook by Linda Gorchels
• The Art of Product Management by Rich Mironov: Not yet published, though a free PDF draft is available online. The book is a based on a collection of artices Rich has published under the Product Bytes name from 2002-2008.

Recommended product management blogs

There are a large number of blogs that focus on product management issues. Here are my favorites, along with some great blogs that don't focus just on product management but frequently touch on issues very appropriate for product managers.

• 280 Group Blog: Brian Lawley’s thoughts, opinions & insights about Silicon Valley and High-Tech Marketing and Product Management
• ack/nak: Postmodern product management from Bob Corrigan
• All about Product Management: A blog designed to encourage all interested in Product Management to share their thoughts, knowledge, points of views and experience regarding Product Management and other related topics and issues. By Derek Morrison
• Ask A Good Product Manager: Your product management questions answered
• bplusd: Jess McMullin’s blog on the intersection of business and design
• Brainrants: Rants from brainmates, an Australian product management consultancy
• Cauvin: Roger Cauvin’s blog
• Forrester Product Management Blog: Commentary on Product Management from Forrester Research’s Tom Grant
• Lead on Purpose: Leadership and product management, from Michael Ray Hopkin
• noise between stations: Victor Lombardi’s blog on design, innovation, customer experience, and related topics
• On Product Management: By Alan Armstrong, Ethan Henry, and Saeed Khan
• PDMA Blog: Blog from the Product Development and Management Association
• Practical Product Management: A blog on practical Product Management, with special emphasis on managing requirements; from Accompa, a requirements management software vendor
• Product Focus: Insights into Product Management in the Telecoms and Software industries from a UK-based product management consultancy
• Product Launch Blog: From Launch Clinic
• Product Management tag on del.icio.us: Links posted to del.icio.us tagged with “productmanagement”
• Product Management Tips - Bazaar Buzz: Product Management and Marketing blog by Gopal Shenoy
• Product Marketing from Pragmatic Marketing: Best practices for market-driven product management; by Steve Johnson
• Requirements Defined: Focusing on managing requirements; from Seilevel
• Signal vs. Noise: A design and usability blog; from 37signals
• SVPG Blog: Thoughts on product strategy, product management, product design, and product marketing… from the Silicon Valley Product Group
• The Cranky Product Manager: The ugly side of software product development
• The Product Management View: Software Product Management Blog and Community; from FeaturePlan & Ryma Technology Solutions
• The Productologist: Exploring the Depths of Product Management: from Ivan Chalif
• Tyner Blain: Focusing on Requirements and Software Development; from Scott Sehlhorst
• Write That Down: Product Management & Stuff. Mostly Stuff; from Adam Bullied