Product Manager and Product Owner. Who runs the show?

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Have you ever questioned who is truly responsible for a product's success? Who is responsible for setting the vision and ensuring that every detail is in line with it—the Product Manager or the Product Owner?

Both are essential, but creating products that satisfy consumer needs requires an awareness of their distinctions. While the Product Owner makes sure everyday tasks satisfy customer expectations, the Product Manager drives the long-term plan. Let's examine the functions of each position, their interactions, and the reasons that both are essential to the success of a product action.

What Does A Product Manager Do?

Let's begin by asking what a product manager does.

1. Product Strategy and Vision

In simple terms, the product manager decides what to build next. The task of leading a product to success depends on the product manager.

2. Team Leadership and Collaboration

They oversee a multidisciplinary group that develops a product and improves its functionality. This organizational role outlines a product or product line's strategic roadmap.

3. Market and Business Analysis

Analyzing market trends and conducting business analysis are possible parts of a Product Manager’s role. They may also project and measure profit and loss.

4. Stakeholder Relationship Management

Managing relationships with external stakeholders can be involved, though responsibilities vary by company. To ensure a successful product launch, they collaborate with the project manager, owner, and other team members.

5. User-Centered Prioritization

The product manager gathers the team around a product roadmap, determines what users need, and sets priorities for what should be built next.

What Does A Product Owner Do?

The term Product Owner can be a little deceptive. It doesn't mean that the individual owns the finished product or the manufacturing company.

Rather, the phrase is derived from Scrum, an Agile framework for managing and developing complex products. In Agile teams, particularly those using the Scrum framework, a product owner is important.

In Scrum, the main responsibility of the Product Owner is to maximize the product's value through the development team's efforts. However, what does this signify?

It indicates that the Product Owner is in charge of developing precise user stories that are grounded in client requirements. They serve as the team's voice of the customer.

For the product backlog, the product owner is responsible. It means that the product owner is responsible for the actionable task. Any updated features or a feature of the product that is no longer in trend will come directly from the product owner.

Responsibilities of Product Owner

The product owner is obliged to the customer's complaint. They listen to their customers and make changes according to the customer's needs.
They build and prioritize the production process. In this way, the production and development team knows which tasks are more important.
The product owner attends different meetings with different shareholders. The product owner ensures that the whole development process follows the roadmap created by the product manager.
The product owner is the bridge between the development team and the customer. They make sure that the product meets the expectation criteria of the customer.

Difference Between Product Manager And Product Owner

It's common to confuse these roles Product Manager vs Product owner as they are confusing.

Product Owner

Agile teams are where Product Owners operate.
They concentrate on user stories and the product backlog.
Features are ranked according to customer needs.
The development team is directly impacted by the decisions they make.

Product Manager

Product managers focus on the product’s visions, company objectives, and the market.
They are in charge of the long-term plan and product roadmap.
They collaborate with stakeholders, sales, and marketing.
They concentrate on profit objectives, competitor analysis, and market demands.

Product Owner vs Product Manager

In product development, both the Product Manager and Product Owner roles are important, but they have different goals. Each member of the team has different responsibilities that help in the accomplishment of various objectives, despite some areas of overlap.

Let's examine how these roles differ in some important ways.

Can a Product Owner be a Product Manager?

Depending on its objectives and product strategy, a company may require both a product manager and a product owner.

What each role can contribute to the success of the product is more important than job titles. Businesses should prioritize business value before coordinating their product responsibilities to achieve these objectives.

Understanding who is in charge of what, any obstacles in the development process, and the intended results is the first step in creating a solid product strategy.

A company can determine if both jobs are required or whether a single role with integrated responsibilities is more effective by examining these variables.

Businesses may find that changes to their current structure would be advantageous. Collaboration may be enhanced and inefficiencies can be avoided with a flexible approach to product management.

A hybrid function that incorporates aspects of product management, product ownership, and even product marketing may be effective in some situations.

How Will You Benefit From the Product Manager and Product Owner?

The product owner is obliged to the customer's complaint. They listen to their customers and make changes according to the customer's needs.
The product manager creates a plan, establishes long-term objectives, and makes sure the product succeeds in the marketplace.
In the meantime, the Product Owner oversees the day-to-day operations, ensuring that the project stays in line with the goals of the Product Manager and the needs of the customers.
When combined, they make the development process responsive and effective, resulting in a product that satisfies customer expectations and corporate goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the product owner higher than the product manager?

In the hierarchy, the Product Owner is at the top. They frequently have a more senior position as a result of these criteria. In the meantime, the Product Manager sets the strategic direction, and the Product Owner focuses on tactical execution and tight collaboration with the development team to produce value.

2. Who is the boss of the product manager?

The boss of a product manager is usually the Chief Product Officer (CPO). The CPO is the top product leader in a company. They manage the product teams and make sure everything gets done.

3. Does a product owner report to a product manager?

The Product Owner is in charge of the tactical aspect, while the Product Manager establishes the strategy. Product Managers receive reports from Product Owners.

4. Who is the lead of the product owner?

A lead product owner is a strategic leader who directs and molds a product's vision and implementation to guarantee that it satisfies customer demands and corporate objectives. They are essential in managing stakeholders, setting priorities for product features, and directing the product team's work.

5. What is a higher position than a product manager?

A higher position than a Product Manager is often a Director of Product or VP of Product. These roles oversee multiple products or entire product strategies. They guide product managers and set larger goals for the product team.

6. Is the product owner the boss?

No, the boss is not the product owner. They prioritize jobs and make sure the product satisfies client needs in close collaboration with the development team. They work together as a team to accomplish objectives, though and have little control over other team members.

Conclusion

A complete approach to product development is ensured by having both a Product Manager and a Product Owner. While the Product Owner oversees the specifics and makes sure the product lives up to customer expectations, the Product Manager drives the long-term objectives, market strategy, and vision. These positions work together to make a product a reality, bringing it into line with corporate objectives and adding value for users.