This post is a part of a series discussing Agile Product Management responsibilities. Click here to start from the beginning.
Product managers are essential to the success of an Agile project, so it is necessary that they approach their role in a way that leverages the benefits of an Agile execution model. They need to be in continual, close communication with various teams, breaking down requirements and user stories into more manageable tasks as and when development requires it. Agile product managers create and keep watch over an active backlog, meet frequently and regularly with customers throughout the product cycle, make sure that projects stick to their roadmaps, and provide rigorous, market-determined leadership.
This requires an Agile Product Manager to learn new skills and expand their existing skills. They must operate on several organizational levels, communicate both within and without the company, and have no problem moving from the micro level (deep technical details) to the macro level (customer benefits) at will. This can produce both training and staffing challenges for organizations, challenges which can be tackled by complementing your Agile Product Manager with requirements analysts and program managers.
Agile companies benefit from having more predictable software development cycles, allowing them to get better products to market more quickly, which builds trust across organizations. There is an observable improvement in accurate reporting, and product portfolios can be altered more frequently. Executives who want these advantages must comprehend the importance of not just their development teams, but of their Product Management teams, as well.
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