Mark Lipowicz Principal, Linden Associates

1. Background Material for Roundtable
Discussion
Moderator: Mark Lipowicz, Principal, Linden
Associates
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 2010
Project Management Tools
for Product Managers

2. Product management and project
management, aren’t they the same thing?
2
 Product management focuses on building the right
things – it’s all about delivering a product that serves
a customer’s need
 Project management focused on building things right
– it’s all about execution
 Products may go on indefinitely, but projects are
temporary activities, they always have a beginning
and an end
 In this roundtable – let’s see if we can identify and
explore some of the ways that project tools can help a
product manager execute on getting the right product
built right
Project Management Tools for Product Managers
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 2010

3. Quick background – project
management methodology
Project Management Tools for Product Managers
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 20103
 Product management has its “lifecycles” and
methodologies, and project management does, too
 The methodology of the Project Management Institute
which accredits Project Management Professionals
(PMPs) is called the Project Management Body of
Knowledge (PMBOK, pronounced “PIM-bok”)
 According to the PMBOK, there are 5 stages to a
project lifecycle – Initiate, Plan, Execute, Monitor and
Control, and Close
 Are product managers involved with each stage?

4. Tool 1. “Develop a project charter”
Project Management Tools for Product Managers
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 20104
Here are quick descriptions of 5 Project management tools
that product managers can use, starting with….
 Tool 1. Develop a project charter (part of “Initiating” a
project)
Professional project managers don’t start a project until
they have a charter that outlines what they are supposed
to build for the project sponsor and that gives them
authority to start spending time and resources
 Should product managers always obtain a formal charter?

5. Tool 2: “Define Scope”
Project Management Tools for Product Managers
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 20105
 This is part of the “Planning” phase. Professional
project managers are trained to deliver the
defined scope of work – and no more
 A project scope statement includes a description
of what is to be built (the requirements); names
specific deliverables and criteria for acceptance;
identifies what is excluded; and lists constraints
or dependencies
 Do product and project managers mean the same
thing when they talk about “scope”?

6. Tool 3: “Plan Communications”
Project Management Tools for Product Managers
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 20106
 Part of the “Planning” phase. Key input is the
“stakeholder register,” knowing who all the
players are and what information they need
 Key output is communication plan: What
information, what format, what frequency – trying
to get this right so stakeholders have the
information they need
 How much time/energy should product managers
focus on this?

7. Tool 4: “Perform Integrated Change
Control”
Project Management Tools for Product Managers
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 20107
 As the project is being executed, this is part of the
“Monitoring and controlling” phase. Scope,
resources (cost) and time – quality usually isn’t in
play – are the three tradeoffs made to bring a
project home
 A “change control board” reviews and either
approves or denies change requests
 Do product managers know how and when to
“just say no”?

8. Tool 5: “Close Project”
Project Management Tools for Product Managers
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 20108
 This is part of the “Closing” phase
 When the project scope is completed, and
accepted, it’s time to stop! End the project,
release the people. Send a bill
 Do product managers know how and when to
stop?

9. Additional suggested discussion
points
Project Management Tools for Product Managers
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 20109
 What kinds of project help do product managers most
need?
 How do product management frameworks connect
with projects?
 Controlling scope – is this sometimes the one big
thing?
Project managers have 37 other “tools”, plus ethical
standards, software tools like MS Project, and various
reports, to help bring a project home

10. Wrapping it up
10
 Thank you for participating!
 If you’d like to exchange ideas on Project and
Product Management, you can reach me at:
Mark Lipowicz, PMP
Principal, Linden Associates
516.277.1092
mark.lipowicz@linden3.com
www.linden3.com
Project Management Tools for Product Managers
Product Camp NYC Nov 6, 2010