Unlocking the Door to Product Management
Recently, I have had a growing interest in learning about what the Product Manager’s role entails, and I’ve been eager to explore its depth. So, when I stumbled upon the Product Management Basics Certification Course by Pendo & Mind the Product I decided to follow it and come back to you with an honest opinion.
About the course
Duration: 2.5 hours (plus the time it takes to complete the quizzes)
Price: FREE (the best part 🎉)
Where to find it: https://www.productledcertified.com/product-management-basics
🎁Bonus: If you pass the exam you will get a certification at the end.
How is the course structured?
The course is laid out in a clear and organized way, split into different modules. Each module dives into a particular aspect of the product management journey. This structured setup ensures you get the full picture of how product management works across its different stages.
And here’s the cool part: After each module, there’s a quiz to check how well you’ve grasped what you’ve learned. It’s like a little self-assessment tool that helps you solidify your understanding and track your progress.
Modules 1 and 2 kick things off by unveiling the core essence of product management. You learn what product management is, where it comes from, and how it’s evolved into a powerful driver for businesses.
Module 3 covers the Product Management Life Cycle. This model, which consists of Discover, Validate, Build, Launch, Evaluate, and Iterate phases, provides a roadmap for successful product development. It’s a cycle that embraces iterative approaches, ensuring your products evolve in response to market feedback and changing customer needs.
The following modules cover the steps that are presented in the Product Management Life Cycle one by one:
The Discover phase is all about diving deep into understanding your customers. This section covers techniques to gather insights, empathize with user pain points, and uncover unmet needs.
Validation is key — and this module is all about testing assumptions and ideas to ensure you’re on the right track.
Build: this module covers the process of turning concepts into tangible products.
Launching a product is more than just pressing a button — it’s a strategic effort to introduce the creation to the world.
The journey doesn’t end with the launch — in fact, it’s just the beginning. This last module delves into the post-launch phase, where you learn how to evaluate how the product is performing and iterate based on real-world feedback. It’s about continuous improvement, keeping your product relevant, and staying attuned to your customers’ evolving needs.
Conclusion: My Take on the Course
Before we wrap things up, let’s talk about my opinion of this course. To begin, I want to emphasize that my critique is not meant to be overly critical. After all, this resource is freely accessible, and expectations should be in line with that.
One of the great things about any course is that it’s never truly a waste of time. Even if you don’t find it perfect, there’s always something new to learn, whether it’s fresh information or novel ideas that spark your creativity.
👍 The Positives:
I believe this material serves as a good starting point, particularly for those who are just stepping into the world of product management. It’s designed to be accessible and is especially beneficial for beginners due to its simplicity.
I must also give credit where it’s due — the presentation of the “Product Management Life Cycle” is on point. The stages — Discover, Validate, Build, Launch, Evaluate, and Iterate — are accurately portrayed, showcasing a cycle that resonates with the essence of successful product development. Now, you might notice parallels with the well-known Design Thinking process, underlining the shared importance of user-centricity and iteration.
📚Room for Improvement:
Now, let’s delve into some aspects that left me wanting a bit more. The course occasionally adopts a perspective that feels aligned with that of a Project Manager. This occasionally results in the oversight of certain responsibilities that fall squarely within the Product Designer’s domain. A more comprehensive approach, I believe, would serve both roles more effectively.
Additionally, the description of the Product Designer’s role as “creating a visually appealing and user-friendly product that solves customers’ problems” doesn’t quite capture the full picture.
Creating meaningful design involves much more than aesthetics. A Product Designer’s involvement should span through the entire lifecycle, ensuring that designs align with business goals and remain truly user-centric.
In a nutshell, while there’s a lot to appreciate about this course, it’s also essential to recognize its limitations. As you move forward in your journey, remember that every experience, even the ones that might fall short of your expectations, holds valuable lessons that contribute to your growth and understanding.
