tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129180.post3912969161835163314..comments2024-02-23T02:13:21.669-08:00Comments on Enterprise Architecture of the Future: Should Architects aspire to be Product Managers?Yogish Paihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15375980373682667347noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129180.post-19159895749982543152011-09-25T11:11:29.414-07:002011-09-25T11:11:29.414-07:00Good thoughts Yogish! I am neither a PM nor an arc...Good thoughts Yogish! I am neither a PM nor an architect but could still resonate with your thoughts. - JayantAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129180.post-32521675081311706752011-05-29T12:20:44.931-07:002011-05-29T12:20:44.931-07:00Speaking as a product manager - and not at all as ...Speaking as a product manager - and not at all as an architect (because I have never been one) ... <br /><br />The most important trait of the product manager is their ability to say 'No' , to wield that negative response with force, intelligence and sensitivity and to do so leaving the audience satisfied with that response.<br /><br />When faced with a single important customer demanding a new feature, a good product manager able to convince the customer that that feature might not be as critical to their business as they might believe, that providing that feature will be detrimental to the overall product roadmap that they also need, that the feature can be substituted somehow.<br /><br />When faced with an Engineering organization that needs to cut scope, a good product manager is able to convince the Engineers that these features are not as big a deal as they might think, that the features are vital to the company for revenue or customer retention or that the features are an integral part of the product roadmap.<br /><br />When I have worked with Product Managers who have come from Engineering or from an Architect's background - I have found them to be strong on the engineering front by definition. The good ones have an understanding of business and an empathy with the customer's business, the customer's pain and are able to 'sell' to customers a new idea or a change of course.<br /><br />The most important skill an ex-architect brings in my opinion is an understanding of how a system works and the impacts on performance of business decisions. Being able to bring that consideration to a Product discussion is at the heart of our business. <br /><br />So Architects, don't be discouraged, but as Yogish says, consider the role carefully, understand what it takes to be a good product manager and remember that you bring a lot to the table. <br /><br />Another excellent post on Auren Hoffman's blog: <a href="http://blog.summation.net/2009/10/why-hiring-a-product-manager-is-so-hard.html" rel="nofollow">Why Hiring a Product Manager is so hard</a>gammydodgerhttp://www.realtea.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11129180.post-32143782154233605612011-05-29T08:25:30.223-07:002011-05-29T08:25:30.223-07:00Yogish - I am in complete agreement with you. You ...Yogish - I am in complete agreement with you. You forced me to look back at my own experiences with Product managers - and when I did I can think of a couple more key differentiators that could be added on to this already great list!!<br /><br />http://architect2architect.blogspot.com/2011/05/attributes-of-product-manager.html<br /><br />As a matter of contrasting the Sales Account Manager and Product Manager, I find the following curious differentiator!! Sales Account Managers are good at touting their product to be the end all be all elixir that addresses my every need. On the other hand, a Product Manager has to be pragmatic about presenting their product's capabilities<br />and in highlighting the customer pain point that it was designed to address.<br /><br />Surekha -Surekha Durvasulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13277895520403956888noreply@blogger.com