I have a confession to make:
As a product leader, I get along just fine with my Engineering colleagues.
This is natural to me: Given my experience of moving 14 times, I tend to get along with a wide range of people. However, at some recent tech leader events here in Phoenix, others have commented about their own experiences with the Product <-> Engineering relationship, and how it can sometimes be quite contentious. Exploring that important link between Product and Engineering teams is the inspiration for this blog post.
I have seen firsthand how the relationship between Product Management and Engineering can make or break the success of a product. Both teams have critical roles to play in helping the company grow and achieve its goals. When the two teams work together in a complementary way, amazing things can happen.
The role of Product Management is to define and prioritize the product roadmap, ensuring that the product meets the needs of customers and the business. They work closely with stakeholders, including sales, marketing, and customer support, to gather feedback and insights that inform the product strategy. Product managers are responsible for making sure the product is delivered on time and within budget, and that it meets the quality standards expected by customers.
Engineering, on the other hand, is responsible for building and delivering the product. They take the product roadmap and turn it into reality, using their technical expertise to build a high-quality product that meets the needs of customers. Engineers are responsible for ensuring that the product is scalable, reliable, and secure and that it can be maintained and updated over time.
While Product Management and Engineering have different areas of expertise, they share a common goal: to create a successful product that meets the needs of customers and the business. Here are some ways in which the two teams can work together to achieve this goal:
- Communication is key. Product Management and Engineering should work together to define clear goals and objectives for the product. They should communicate regularly to ensure that the product roadmap is aligned with the engineering roadmap and that both teams are working towards the same objectives.
- Collaborate on prioritization. Product Management should work closely with Engineering to prioritize the features and functionality that will have the biggest impact on customers and the business. Engineering can provide valuable input on the technical feasibility and complexity of different features, helping Product Management make informed decisions.
- Involve Engineering in the discovery process. Product Management should involve Engineering in the discovery process, including customer interviews, market research, and user testing. Engineers can provide valuable insights into technical feasibility and constraints and can help Product Management better understand the technical implications of different product decisions.
- Use data to drive decisions. Product Management and Engineering should use data to drive decisions about the product. They should work together to define metrics and KPIs that will help them measure the success of the product and should use data to inform decisions about product features and functionality.
- Celebrate successes together. Finally, Product Management and Engineering should celebrate successes together. When the product achieves its goals, both teams should share in the success and recognize the contributions of each other.
The relationship between Product Management and Engineering can be one that complements each other as both teams work to help the company grow and be successful. By communicating regularly, collaborating on prioritization, involving Engineering in the discovery process, using data to drive decisions, and celebrating successes together, Product Management and Engineering can work together to create amazing products that meet the needs of customers and the business.
