The Productologist

I saw a question on Linked In from a new Product Manager who is switching careers and wanted some pointers about how to make the transition smoothly. I answered the question with some suggestions. She is not a software Product Manager, as I am, so my response to her was not tied specifically to what I do as a software PM. I am re-posting a slightly modified version of my response here. Enjoy!

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Welcome to Product Management. It’s a very challenging and rewarding field and provides a great opportunity to interact with many business functions.

Bug scrub is a word that strikes fear and hatred into the hearts of many Product Managers (Developers, QA leads, Release Managers, and Project Managers, too). Not because of the purpose of bug scrub–dispositioning recently filed product defects–but because the process behind the purpose can end up being so heinous and painful.

For the uninitiated, the Cranky Product Manager provides a valuable, albeit hyperbolic glimpse inside the bug scrub process. She highlights the frequent discord and conflicting interests that makes bug scrub such an ordeal and one that all-to-frequently ends up being internally-focused rather than customer- or market-focused.