Chapter 2:- What is a Product?

(This might not be as simple as you think!)

I know this sounds like a question with an obvious answer. After all, a product could be anything: the phone you're using, the clothes you're wearing, or even the Linkedin application you’re reading this on. All of these are products by their classical definition.

But as product managers, our understanding of "product" goes much deeper.

We manage more than just things—sometimes it's an entire application, and other times it’s just a feature or a small part of a larger ecosystem. Let’s take the example of Linkedin:

Linkedin is a product, for sure. But within it, the post feature is a product, the job feed is a product, messaging is a product—and each one has its own dedicated team of product managers, designers, and engineers. In product management (If you have not read my earlier write up on product manager do read here by clicking this link) lingo, each of these features is treated as a product because of the value it delivers to the user.

But the structure doesn’t stop there. For something as complex as the jobsfeed, Linkedin has multiple product managers focusing on specific elements—like the ranking algorithm, the advertising, or content moderation.

In larger organizations or applications, products can even be managed by platform. For instance, one product manager might handle the iOS app, another might focus on the Android version, and yet another on the website, all under the umbrella of the same core product.

?So, what really is a product? From a product manager’s perspective, a product is anything that delivers value to users and can be managed, improved, and iterated upon. This includes features, services, experiences, and even internal tools that help a business run better.

Here’s my take: A product is more than just a tangible item or a single piece of software. It’s a solution to a problem, and it evolves based on user needs and market demands. It can be something as broad as a platform or as specific as a tiny feature that enhances user experience.

In my experience, a platform like @Linkedin is more than just building a network—it is about creating a streamlined experience, consuming the contents, articles, newsletter, and ensuring that the product delivered real value to its users. Each module or feature within the platform could be considered its own product, with distinct user journeys and outcomes to manage.

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