Book Review, by Therese Padilla

Linda Gorchels has released the third edition of "The Product Manager's Handbook." The first chapter is revelatory of the significant changes between this edition and the previous version. I was cheering from my seat as I read the opening chapter and the comparison of product managers to superheros with blue capes. The parallel between the caped superhero and a product manager is remarkable. Both have amazing abilities and powers beyond that of mere mortal managers, both come from humble origins, both stand up for truth and justice (or some form of competitive justice), both are considered a menace to authority, and both do battle with their company's archenemies.

The Product Managers Handbook is the holy grail for these archetypes. Often considered to be the unsung hero of an organization, product manager leap tall buildings (and development teams) in a single bound. Product manager's have to be both strategic and tactical. In today's global markets, there is increased product complexity. Couple this with intense global competition and you can see that an empowered product manager can mean the difference between product success and failure. The companies that know this have built infrastructures around the product management discipline. In The Product Manager's Handbook, the blueprint is clear. Filled with case studies, examples, charts and interviews (including one with yours truly) this handbook is nothing short of inspiring. I believe this book will energize product managers around the globe.

This book is not short on content. At 408 pages, it is over 100 pages longer than the second edition. The book also comes with a companion CD of templates and worksheets designed for the busy product manager.

Now for those of you concerned that book opens with a male superhero, ala Superman, you needn't worry. We all know Lara Croft would make a much better product manager than Clark Kent.

Software Product Management Essentials
by Alyssa S. Dver

This book provides the new product manager several dozen tools and charts that they need to get them started. For experienced product managers, Dver offers some very interesting perspectives on processes that they might not have thought through completely. The style of the book is written as a good mentor, providing do's and don't within the context of each task definition. If you only have room for a few professional books, Software Product Management Essentials would be one to have on the shelf.

Book Description

In an economy where efficiency and delivery are key, Software Product Management Essentials is required reading for any software product manager. Software Product Management Essentials is a hands-on guide to help new product managers sift through the numerous tasks and responsibilities involved in this pinnacle job. The book is loaded with tips and example best practices to help even experienced product managers optimize their time and effectiveness. The book focuses on the unique challenges of being a Product Manager in a small to mid-sized software company. It provides a framework for the role of the Product Manager in an environment where there are few resources available to help in tackling the many things needed for a quality, on-time delivery of software. Whether you are already a Product Manager or considering a new career in product management, Software Product Management Essentials details a day-in-the-life experience of a PM with both the glory and challenges one faces in this role. Engineers, marketing personnel, quality assurance teams, technical writers, and anyone involved in the product delivery process will find this book extremely useful right away in optimizing the day-to-day interactions across a smaller software organization.

Emphasizing that code is only part of the overall software product, Software Product Management Essentials stresses the importance of championing a product. Critical topics covered in the book include the product delivery process, beta testing, launching a software product, and software pricing. An entire chapter is dedicated to the issues of expanding the business internationally and the issues a Product Manager must consider before and during expansion. Numerous templates are provided to fast track the Product Manager's work including a sample non-disclosure agreement, product delivery checklist, and beta test agreement and summary.

Richly illustrated with cartoons and reproductions of many of the actual campaigns used at the time marketing wizard Richard Chapman takes readers on a hilarious ride through the last twenty years. Filled with personal anecdotes spanning Chapman's remarkable career (he was present at many now famous meetings and events) "In Search of Stupidity" takes a no holds barred look at the uncreative and hopeless marketing ideas surrounding the technology industry. It offers clear, detailed analysis of what happened, why, and what you can do to avoid acting stupidly in the future.

The first all-in-one guide to the techniques and tools of today's top product managers

Linda Gorchels's bestselling The Product Manager's Handbook introduced thousands of professionals to the expanding roles and responsibilities of a product manager in today's demanding marketplace. Now, in The Product Manager's Field Guide, Gorchels explores the specific skills, abilities, and competencies that separate the outstanding product manager from the average and provides you with a detailed action plan for becoming a product manager capable of creating consistent customer delight and long-term competitive advantage.

The Product Manager's Field Guide tells you everything you need to know to create a clear vision and strategy for any product or service and then drive that vision throughout all levels of your organization and the marketplace. Look to it for:

• Wide-ranging exercises and self-assessments for developing and rating your skills and competencies
• Tools and action steps for using your skills to enhance customer satisfaction and competitive position
• The five competencies of a top-performing product manager--and ways to practice and incorporate them into your daily routine

Today's best product managers must have the skills, vision, and flexibility of a start-up entrepreneur--even when they work for a Fortune 100 company! The Product Manager's Field Guide is a step-by-step action guide for learning and developing those skills and building a product management career that is productive, profitable, and professionally rewarding.

The Product Manager's Handbook is the essential guide to successful product management in today's fast-changing business world. Product and brand managers, as well as upper-level sales, marketing, and branding executives, will find the text thorough and informative as it explains and analyzes the product manager's role in both traditional, hierarchical organizations as well as in newer horizontal, team-driven decision-making structures.

What is a product manager? The overall responsibility of a product manager is to integrate the various segments of a business into a strategically focused whole, maximizing the value of a product by coordinating the production of an offering with an understanding of market needs. A product manager must oversee all aspects of a product or service line in order to create and deliver superior customer satisfaction while simultaneously providing long-term value for the company.

The Product Manager's Handbook covers all of these topics in a convenient, easy-to-follow presentation that includes:

Hands-on charts for managing every key step, from concept to completion Practical checklists for evaluating progress at every critical stage Brief profiles in every chapter of specific product management roles, functions, and issues Real-world cases illustrating the challenges of product management in action This thoroughly revised and updated second edition fully integrates the Internet and other digital technologies into the product manager's arsenal of tools. The book includes all new information on what it takes to be a successful product manager. It explains the product manager's role in the planning process (including strategic and operational planning), how to evaluate product portfolios, how to propose and develop successful new products, and more.

The product manager is frequently the source of the entrepreneurial spirit and sense of innovation that drives a successful organization. Learn to make the most of your product management system with this indispensable reference guide

The Product Manager's Handbook is the essential guide to successful product management in today's fast-changing business world. Product and brand managers, as well as upper-level sales, marketing, and branding executives, will find the text thorough and informative as it explains and analyzes the product manager's role in both traditional, hierarchical organizations as well as in newer horizontal, team-driven decision-making structures.

What is a product manager? The overall responsibility of a product manager is to integrate the various segments of a business into a strategically focused whole, maximizing the value of a product by coordinating the production of an offering with an understanding of market needs. A product manager must oversee all aspects of a product or service line in order to create and deliver superior customer satisfaction while simultaneously providing long-term value for the company.

The Product Manager's Handbook covers all of these topics in a convenient, easy-to-follow presentation that includes:

Hands-on charts for managing every key step, from concept to completion Practical checklists for evaluating progress at every critical stage Brief profiles in every chapter of specific product management roles, functions, and issues Real-world cases illustrating the challenges of product management in action This thoroughly revised and updated second edition fully integrates the Internet and other digital technologies into the product manager's arsenal of tools. The book includes all new information on what it takes to be a successful product manager. It explains the product manager's role in the planning process (including strategic and operational planning), how to evaluate product portfolios, how to propose and develop successful new products, and more.

The product manager is frequently the source of the entrepreneurial spirit and sense of innovation that drives a successful organization. Learn to make the most of your product management system with this indispensable reference guide