You're trying to build a successful product. Do you need a program manager or a product owner?

When building a successful product, the choice between a program manager and a product owner depends on your specific needs. A program manager focuses on successful execution, managing risks, schedules, resources, and budgets to ensure major initiatives are delivered effectively.

?? Coordinate Projects: The program manager oversees the coordination and execution of multiple projects within a program, ensuring they align with overall objectives ?? Resource Management: Oversee budget, timeline, and personnel to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery ?? Risk Mitigation: Identifying and mitigating risks is a key responsibility, ensuring smooth project execution and minimizing disruptions ?? Stakeholder Communication: Facilitate communication to keep stakeholders informed and engaged about project progress, milestones, and potential challenges ?? Monitor Program Performance: Track key metrics of the program and make adjustments for it's success

If the situation requires a Program Manager, it's imperative to plan for this role. However, the Program Manager cannot operate in isolation, solely concentrating on traditional program management activities. Instead, they must adapt their approach to focus on product-centric delivery, aligning with the program's goal of developing a product. Therefore, adopting a product-oriented mindset is crucial, making the transition from outputs to outcomes a top priority. When communicating with senior executives, sponsors, and other key stakeholders, the emphasis should be on the progress of product development, the product vision, and the desired outcomes. The first check is to ensure the contract is aligned to Product development practices.

?? Define Product Vision: Product Owner sets a clear vision for the product, guiding its development towards achieving strategic objectives. ?? Prioritize Features: They prioritize features based on customer needs and business goals, ensuring that the most valuable features are delivered first. ??? Voice of the Customer: Acting as the voice of the customer, the product owner gathers feedback, conducts market research, and ensures that the product meets user requirements. ?? Drive Value Delivery: They work closely with the development team to ensure that the product delivers value. ?? Measure Success: defines key metrics and success criteria, continuously monitoring the product's performance and making data-driven decisions to drive success.

CSFs - The primary focus of the Product Owner is to maximize the value of the product. - It's important to clarify the roles of both the Product Manager and Product Owner, ensuring seamless collaboration between them. - For System Integrators, clarity is needed on who will take on the Product Owner role, whether it's someone from the customer's side or the integrator's team. - The responsibilities outlined for the Product Owner cannot be compromised regardless of who assumes the role. - Close collaboration between the Product Owner and Product Engineering team is essential There's observed confusion in the industry on the above, underlining the importance of achieving clarity and alignment for success.

product owner is responsible for managing the product backlog, representing stakeholders, and aligning the team with the product roadmap. If your focus is on delivering features, user stories, and Agile sprints, a product owner is suitable. However, if you aim to build a business around a product, create growth opportunities, and engage in strategic thinking, a product manager with a broader skill set is more appropriate.

To build a successful product, both a program manager & a product owner are essential. While a product owner focuses primarily on the product itself, the program manager oversees the entire project & ensures it meets the broader organizational strategy. Both work collaboratively to manage resources, navigate risks, & ensure timely delivery of the product with high quality. By working together, they combine their unique expertise, skills & responsibilities to deliver a successful outcome. While their roles may differ, understanding their specific functions & how they can help achieve a successful product is essential.

The context should provide the answer if we need both: In a startup environment, the team is small with less operational work, which can mostly be done by both. Resources at initial stages are limited. In a product company, if operational work is supported by a PMO team across programs, the Product Owner can focus on their key objectives. In a complex program, both roles are surely needed. In principle, both roles have different thinking, objectives, and mindsets. Never compromise on product development objectives merely to save on one person's budget. If there are budget constraints, initially having both roles is advisable. As we progress, we can explore options on how to address budget and capacity challenges.

?? Assess Needs: Decision on roles depends on product and program size, complexity, and maturity ?? Adaptability: Structure may evolve; single owner or multiple owners may be needed based on program dynamics ?? Strategic Alignment: Optimal structure determined by careful assessment of project or program requirements ?? Stakeholder Engagement: Owner engages customers, manager facilitates communication ?? Cohesion: The program manager fosters cohesion among multiple product owners, ensuring alignment and collaboration ?? Resource Optimization: Both roles optimize resource use, with owner prioritizing features and manager managing budget

I would look at the context and determine - - If the organization is developing this product as part of a larger GTM (Go to Market) strategy, then Product is one part of it and you need a Program manager. GTM Strategy would have a definitive value proposition and benefits associated, and you need a Program manager to realize them, where product could be one of the component projects - Alternatively, imagine the above GTM is successful, company has its hold in the market already with revenue streams generated, want to enhance some features, then product manager would do the job