Product Collective - 🧰 Crucial tools for product teams

Your Product Management Stack

Product managers use diverse tools for optimal workflows. While preferences vary, key tools have been highlighted by experts like Izzy Kohout and Emily Stevens. The Productboard team emphasizes specialized product management software over generic ones. Aakash Gupta offers insights on AI product tools, and the Maze team lists tools to aid in product discovery, understanding user needs, and enhancing productivity.

A comprehensive guide to a product manager’s tech stack. A tech stack is a list of technologies used to build and run a company’s applications and services. A product stack is the set of tools that product managers use to be as effective as possible in building great products. One PM’s stack will not be the same as another PM’s stack. However, Izzy Kohout and Gabriel Raubenheimer shared some of the tools they use to be as effective as possible throughout the discovery → delivery → impact cycle. (via Atlassian)

13 of the best product management tools for your stack. Product management is a varied, dynamic field, and product managers are required to wear many hats. In addition to a broad skillset, product managers require a robust tool stack. Not sure which tools to consider for you or your team? Emily Stevens describes 13 of the best product management tools, covering everything from collaboration and project management to roadmapping, user analytics, and feature flagging. (via CareerFoundry)

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Microsoft's got your legal back

Microsoft's AI Copilot has been making waves, integrated into everything from GitHub to Windows 11 and Edge. But with great AI power comes great... copyright headaches? It’s one of the big open questions when it comes to AI. Who actually owns the copyrights? When it comes to using AI to create software code, that’s a big open question. But according to The Verge, Microsoft just stepped up, saying (and I’ll paraphrase), "If you’re using our AI… we’ve got your legal back!"

In simple terms, if someone throws a copyright lawsuit your way because of something Microsoft’s Copilot did, Microsoft is saying it will assume legal responsibility. This is massive, especially when the lines around AI and copyright are blurrier than my vision before coffee. Brad Smith from Microsoft emphasized they're doing this for three big reasons:

1. They genuinely care about their customers (which we as product people can appreciate).
2. They understand copyright holders have legitimate concerns.
3. They've got measures in place to prevent such mishaps.

The underlying message? Microsoft is looking out for both creators and innovators. They want to make sure the data that fuels AI isn’t hogged by a few big players, which could snuff out competition and fresh ideas.

For us product people, this is both a heads-up and an inspiration. It's a wake-up call about the importance of user trust and a roadmap for navigating the complex waters of innovation responsibly.

There’s no doubt that AI is continuing to evolve – and that copyright issues are real. But with big players like Microsoft taking such bold steps, it may be a good sign that some of these potential issues are being accounted for by those of us who want to use and implement such technologies. I’ll take that as one piece of good news to end the week on!

How to upgrade your product strategy and tech stack. While it might seem like a more efficient choice to use multi-tasking software across your teams it’s not what an ambitious product team needs, especially in a more turbulent atmosphere. While it might seem counterintuitive, now is the time to invest in purpose-built product management software. The ProductBoard team explains that a dedicated product management platform sets you and your team up for success at a time when it’s critically important to place the smartest product bets possible, using limited resources. Productboard

AI product tech stack. You’ve already read enough about how AI is going to be transformative. The problem is, you don’t have time to figure out which tools to use. Aakash Gupta has tried them all and found the product tools you need to consider adopting on your product team. Aakash Gupta

Top 16 product discovery tools for your tech stack. To maintain a laser-sharp focus on delivering value to your users, your team needs a reliable compass to navigate through the noise. Enter product discovery: a structured process that helps validate assumptions, understand your users and prioritize features. With product discovery tools as your sidekick, you can boost team productivity, embrace innovation, and really get to the heart of your user’s needs. But which tools should you be considering? The team at Maze compiled a list of their most recommended product discovery tools—so you can pick and choose your favorites and start building the ideal discovery tech stack for your team.