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Value and Viability

“When the product succeeds, it’s because everyone on the product team did what they needed to do; but when the product fails, it’s the product manager.”

A viable product is one that can be effectively marketed, sold, and monetized. 

To build that, we need three critical components, the PM, the designer, and the engineer in harmony. 

The product manager is responsible for value and viability. 

The designer provides usability to the product. 

The engineer makes everything feasible. 

All three components together make a product. 

Two reminders for Product Managers:

1. Since the product manager doesn’t build anything, they should never get sole credit; praise should be shared with the team that made it possible

2. Value is the output of viability, usability, and feasibility; all parts need to be present for a successful product

If a PM claims that it’s “not my fault” that one part of the organization can’t effectively do their job as it relates to the product, they are mistaken and are missing the point of the role.

Link to the full article from Marty Cagan.

End Note

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Have a great day,

Nick