In this presentation I discuss the key differences of a project and product manager and where the key areas are in terms of collaboration. 2 Min Read!

1. Product
Managers
VS
Project
Managers

2. First, lets
understand
what is a
product?
A product is what
you are providing
to a group of users.
•Physical product
•Software application
•Service

3. So, what’s a
project?
It’s a plan with a series of
activities that has a defined
outcome and a fixed start and
end date.
The project is completed when
that outcome is accomplished.

4. So what’s
the role of
the Product
Manager
Product manager are often described as the CEO
of their product or service line.
• Set strategy
• Prioritize releases
• Talk to customers
• Clearly define features
• Manage entire lifecycle of the product
• Goal is to deliver a product that customers love

5. And the Project Manager?
Oversees a fixed project from beginning to end:
• It can be a single project or a group of projects
• Execute the strategy set by the product manager or
leadership team
• Goal is to work with a broader team with a diverse
set of skills and to complete a project on time and
under budget

6. Each role performs unique activities to achieve
specific goals.
Let’s break out the details of what each one does…

7. Product
Manager
Responsibility
It’s simple, they
create products
that consumers
love!

8. More Product Manager Responsibilities
STRATEGY RELEASES IDEATION FEATURES GO-TO-MARKET ORGANIZATIONAL
TRAINING
PROFIT AND LOSS

9. Project
Manager
Responsibility
They are more focused on the project itself:
• Scope
• Schedule
• Cost
• Quality
• Resources
• Communications
• Risk
• Procurement
• etc

10. Project
Manager
Duties
Budget
Delivery
Resources
Capacity
Cross-team organization
Problem resolution
Status updates

11. How can the Project Manager and
Product Manager Collaborate?
• By becoming aligned on what the project should
deliver in terms of capabilities for the organisation
• How the Product Manager intends to make the
product/service successful?
• What the project needs to achieve in terms of scope
to be differentiated in the market place?
• Setting key product KPI’s and how they can help the
organisation in terms of profit and loss
• How the project & product manger intends to express
project progress to stakeholders?
• How different product releases map out into projects?