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4 Reasons Why Any Software-Driven Product Development Requires a Technical Product Manager

Any Software-Driven Product Development Requires a Technical Product Manager

In recent years, the product development sector has seen a lot of software-driven activity. Previously, this wasn't the case, which is why product development teams were managed by product managers. However, due to the greater role of software in modern-day product development, there's now a growing need for technical product managers.

But why are technical product managers so critical in software-driven product development processes? To know the answer, read on, as we give you all the details about the technical product manager job description. We'll also take you through the differences between a project manager and a technical product manager. So, without any further delay, let's get started!

What do technical product managers do?

We've already mentioned 'technical product manager' a few times in this post. But what is a technical product manager? Technical product managers assume responsibility for product success (or failure) by working in a cross-functional manner. Technical product managers have to work not only with product development teams but also with the teams dedicated to marketing and selling the product. Typically, technical product manager skills are far more advanced compared to traditional product and project managers when it comes to design and engineering.

Roles and responsibilities of technical product managers

Technical product managers have to take on a variety of roles. They also have numerous responsibilities to handle, which include the following:

  • Understanding the needs of the customers and translating them into requirements that can be met by the product in development.
  • Following, researching, and understanding industry trends for greater ability to assess emerging products.
  • Recommending investors to invest in new technologies.
  • Working with a variety of internal teams that include engineers, architects, and developers.
  • Following competitors' activities to identify potential threats.
  • Provide training to both customers and internal teams regarding the correct use of products.
  • Identifying, assessing, and addressing technical risks.
  • Answering questions posed by internal teams, customers, and media regarding the product.
  • Coordinating beta tests.
  • Analyzing and understanding algorithms, automated systems, and data pipelines.
  • Evaluating experiments and analyzing performance indicators using database queries.
  • Defining criteria of success for product appearance and testing.
  • Facilitating the creation of product documentation along with maintenance.

However, these roles and responsibilities of a technical product manager may vary from one business to another.

What are the differences between a project manager and a technical product manager?

In this section, we'll do a product manager vs. project manager comparison, as many people are curious to know how the two roles differ.

A project manager's functions include:

  • Breaking down initiatives into tasks
  • Allocating resources towards the project
  • Planning timelines of the project
  • Tracking and monitoring the completion of tasks
  • Communicating status of progress to all project stakeholders
  • Ensuring the completion of the project.

On the other hand, a technical product manager's functions include:

  • Researching
  • Deciding on the vision for the product
  • Communicating it to stakeholders
  • Developing strategic plans
  • Creating the product roadmap
  • Maintaining the roadmap
  • Overseeing product development and driving it.

While this product vs. project manager comparison shows that the fundamental functions of both positions are different, there may be scenarios during which there may be some overlapping.

Reasons why technical product managers are important for software-driven product development

  • Technical expertise

Technical product managers are typically adept as software engineers and developers. That's why they can ensure high-quality end products. If the product development team encounters a bug during the development process, a technical product manager, through technical expertise, can resolve the bug. In this way, technical product managers can play much greater roles in software-driven product development than other marketing-oriented managers.

  • Bridging the gap between product management and technical teams

Decisions coming from the product management team may not always find support among the technical teams. This is due to the fact that most product management teams fail to understand the technical aspects of product development. In such scenarios, a technical product manager can effectively bridge the gap between the technical and the product management teams by resolving misunderstandings and keeping the teams on the same wavelength.

  • Innovation

As technical product managers tend to keep themselves up-to-date with the latest trends in engineering and software, they are more likely to bring innovation to a business. These days, technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and every business needs to be dynamic to ensure that their products' perceived values don't diminish. That's where technical product managers can come into the picture with their technical know-how and vision and play key roles in developing products for the future.

  • Understanding of the business side of things

A technical product manager, despite being armed with a vast depth of technical knowledge, is also required to learn and understand the business side of things. As a result, a technical product manager can aid in product development not just from a technical standpoint but also from a business standpoint. This mix of technical and business acumen typically makes technical product managers some of the most valued employees in modern-day business setups.

Conclusion

So, there you have it, the role of technical product managers in detail. As businesses evolve further, the roles and responsibilities of technical product managers are set to undergo changes as well.

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