Product managers focus on strategy, empathy, and thinking broadly about what a product should do for users. Project managers ensure technical complexity, long project cycles, organizational complexity, or large project sizes are managed effectively by focusing on completing tasks, paying attention to details, and taking a linear, tactical approach. As companies grow larger, they may need both product managers to set vision and project managers to coordinate execution of work.

1. Product Versus Project
Manager
Sydney Project Manager’s Meetup
Sept 2013
Caroline Gordon
@carolineggordon
Monday, 9 September 13

2. The Lines are Blurring
Monday, 9 September 13

3. Between...
• Customers and suppliers
• Providers and users
• Software and the rest of the world
• Managers and team members
• Creators and consumers
• Product Managers and Project
Managers
Monday, 9 September 13

4. Mind The Gap
Monday, 9 September 13

5. Between...
• The outcome ... what it should do
• The build process ... how to make it
Monday, 9 September 13

6. Between...
• The product vision ... what it should do
• A program of work a team can
execute ... how to create it
Monday, 9 September 13

7. The size of the gap
Monday, 9 September 13

8. You need a project manager if...
• Technically complex - work can’t easily
be organised by business value
• Long project cycle - delivery of value is
not transparent
• Organisation is complex - distribution,
logistics
• Project size - multiple teams, eg release
train
Monday, 9 September 13

9. Vive La Difference
Monday, 9 September 13

10. Project Managers are...
• Completers
• Detail minded
• Pattern oriented...little things add up to
a pattern
• Driving to an outcome.. focused
• Linear
• Tactical
Monday, 9 September 13

11. Product Managers are...
• Strategic
• Empathic
• People oriented
• Blue sky thinkers
• Organic (less linear)
Monday, 9 September 13

12. Nuances
• Titles don’t matter
• Growth patterns - small companies -
one customer / organsing role ...
currently called product manager
• Grow larger ... then need coordination
and Project Manager (or program
manager)
Monday, 9 September 13