Product Manager
A product manager is responsible for both discovery (figuring out what to build) and delivery (delivering the product).
Product managers work with engineering teams, designers, and data analysts as part of product development teams. They should focus on discovery activities while sharing delivery responsibilities with the broader team rather than being solely responsible for keeping engineers busy.
What do product managers do in discovery?
In discovery work, product managers talk with customers to understand needs, observe challenges, and uncover pain points. This provides the context for making good product decisions.
Many companies view product development from the perspective of throughput in a factory, where a product manager's primary job is to keep engineers busy. The problem with this model is that product managers tend to spend the majority of their time working with their engineering teams on getting product out the door—grooming backlogs, prioritizing bugs, answering questions, and simplifying requirements in response to schedule slips.
These are all important tasks, but when they fill your day, it means you aren't spending time talking with customers, understanding needs, observing challenges, and uncovering pain points.
What are the key principles for product managers?
Product managers should not be the only ones responsible for delivery outcomes. Product development teams need to share the responsibility for delivery. This means everyone from your tech leads to your designers to your data analysts need to feel responsible for shipping product.
Empowered product managers are curious and focused on learning. They differentiate between discovery and delivery, and between outcomes and outputs.
Learn more:
- The 7 Core Traits of a Good Product Manager
Related terms:
- Product Discovery
- Product Trio
- Product Team
- Delivery
Last Updated: October 25, 2025