Schools of Thought in Product Management
A review of the four distinct schools of thought that have emerged in product management
Introduction
This review outlines the four distinct schools of thought that have emerged in product management.
CEO of the Product
The Generalization approach to product management views product management as multidisciplinary, multifaceted, and responsible for nearly anything and everything related to the product.
The primary consideration that product management is a generalization, not a specialization, leads to monikers such as CEO of the Product to describe the supposedly encompassing nature and broad profile of product management practitioners.
The Generalization approach describes product management as diverse responsibilities that may include tasks offloaded from other corporate functions.
The Generalization approach also describes product management as the backbone, connective tissue, or glue that holds together all aspects of a product project.
Constant deliberations on the scope of ownership, range of responsibilities, desired skills, and how to lead without authority are prevalent.
