Product Management: An Introduction from Coursera

In today’s fast-changing global market, companies need skilled product managers to develop breakthrough products or to expand their existing offerings. By the end of this course, you will understand what a product manager does in their role and the skills you need to become one.

This introductory course is a valuable investment for those looking to start a career in product management.

Learn key product management concepts such as the product lifecycle, personas, value creation, and SWOT analysis. Gain an understanding of the job opportunities in product management and the industry-standard Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®.

The hands-on labs provide opportunities to investigate product management in simulated real-world settings. You’ll hear from industry experts discussing their points of view, so you learn about their first-hand experiences.

This course is the first in a series of courses, which, once completed, will earn you the IBM Product Management Professional Certificate. Anyone can take this beginner-level course, which does not require any prior Product Management skills or background.

What's inside

Syllabus

Product Manager Profession Overview

In this module, you will learn about the role of the product manager and the key skills that are important for success. You will learn about a product manager's responsibilities and persona. You will also list the skills, knowledge, and business acumen required to be an effective product manager.

The Product Lifecycle and the Product Manager

In this module, you will be introduced to product and product management. You will learn about what a product is and what a typical day in the life of a product manager looks like. You will also learn which personality traits are most critical for a product manager, what the role of a product manager looks like in an organization, and what kind of challenges the product managers face. Next, you will focus on the life cycle of a product. You will learn about the four phases of the product lifecycle, the seven-step product management lifecycle, and the key deliverables of the product management life cycle. You will also learn about the most critical tasks product managers accomplish, the key functional area expertise that they must have, and the key roles and stakeholders they must collaborate with.

Product Management Fundamentals

In this module, you will learn about the fundamental concepts of product management. It focuses on value creation. You will learn about value creation and entrepreneurship and the connection between a product manager and an entrepreneur. You will also learn about critical thinking and the product manager. It also introduces you to the product management and marketing body of knowledge or ProdBOK. It has a practice quiz on product management opportunities. It also focuses on the link between portfolio management and project management. You will learn about the portfolio approach, its benefits and challenges, and the challenges to develop a product strategy effectively. You will also learn where the roles of a product manager and project manager intersect. It also covers project management’s predictive and adaptive lifecycles and a product manager’s role.

Product Management Opportunities and Certifications

In this module, you will explore the product management opportunities and certifications. It summarizes the current employment opportunities in today’s work environment and covers the Product Management and Marketing Body of Knowledge (ProdBOK) and the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM). You will also learn about the best way to prepare for a product manager role and the background experience required to become a product manager. It also covers certifications and resume building. You will learn about the certificates available in the product management career.

Final Project, Assessment and Course Wrap-up

Welcome to Module 5. This module introduces your final project. You will analyze a product management scenario, after that, you are expected to give a retrospective of the team's successes and areas of improvement related to the product development team. Additionally, you will attempt a 20-question graded quiz to assess your comprehension of the key concepts taught in the course. We end the module with our congratulations and recommend the next steps to continue your product management journey.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops knowledge of key product management concepts such as product lifecycle management, value creation, and SWOT analysis, which are core skills for comprehensive product development

Provides hands-on labs to practice product management skills in simulated real-world settings

Features industry expert guest speakers sharing their experiences and insights, which is standard in industry training

Taught by Rav Ahuja and Matt Versdahl, who are recognized in industry for their work in product management

Introduces the Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®, which is an industry standard credential

Serves as the first in a series of courses that can lead to the IBM Product Management Professional Certificate

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Product Management: An Introduction with these activities:

Read Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love

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Reading Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love will help you understand the principles of product management and how to develop successful products.

View EMPOWERED on Amazon

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Read the book.
Summarize the key concepts of the book.

Discuss product management with other students

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Discussing product management with other students will help you learn from others and gain different perspectives on the field.

Browse courses on Product Management

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Find other students who are interested in product management.
Set up a time to meet and discuss product management.
Share your knowledge and experience with each other.

Attend product management meetups

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Attending product management meetups will help you connect with other professionals in the field and learn about different aspects of the job.

Browse courses on Product Management

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Find product management meetups in your area.
Attend product management meetups.
Network with other product managers.

Five other activities

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Participate in a product management workshop

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Participating in a product management workshop will help you learn more about the field and develop your skills.

Browse courses on Product Management

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Find product management workshops in your area.
Attend product management workshops.
Participate in the workshop activities.

Conduct a SWOT analysis of a product

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Conducting a SWOT analysis of a product will help you identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, which is a valuable skill for product managers.

Browse courses on SWOT Analysis

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Gather information about the product, including its features, target market, and competitive landscape.
Identify the product's strengths and weaknesses.
Identify the product's opportunities and threats.
Create a SWOT analysis matrix.

Participate in a product management competition

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Participating in a product management competition will help you test your skills and learn from other product managers.

Browse courses on Product Management

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Find product management competitions in your area.
Register for a product management competition.
Prepare for the competition.
Compete in the competition.

Develop a product roadmap

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Developing a product roadmap will help you plan and manage the development of a product over time, which is an essential skill for product managers.

Browse courses on Product Roadmap

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Define the product's vision and goals.
Identify the key milestones and deliverables for the product.
Create a timeline for the product's development.
Identify the resources needed to develop the product.
Create a product roadmap document.

Create a product management portfolio

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Creating a product management portfolio will help you organize your work and showcase your skills to potential employers.

Browse courses on Product Management

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Gather your product management work.
Choose the best examples of your work.
Create a portfolio website or document.
Present your portfolio to potential employers.

Career center

Learners who complete Product Management: An Introduction will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the lifecycle of a product, from ideation to launch. This course will help you build a foundation in product management, including the product lifecycle, personas, value creation, and SWOT analysis. You will also learn about the job opportunities in product management and the industry-standard Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®. This course is a valuable investment for those looking to start a career in product management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Product Owner

Product Owners are responsible for defining the vision and roadmap for a product. They work closely with the development team to ensure that the product meets the needs of the users. This course will help you build a foundation in product management, including the product lifecycle, personas, value creation, and SWOT analysis. You will also learn about the job opportunities in product management and the industry-standard Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®. This course is a valuable investment for those looking to start a career in product management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Owner

Product Marketing Manager

Product Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing the marketing strategy for a product. They work closely with the product team to ensure that the product is positioned correctly in the market and that the target audience is reached. This course will help you build a foundation in product management, including the product lifecycle, personas, value creation, and SWOT analysis. You will also learn about the job opportunities in product management and the industry-standard Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®. This course is a valuable investment for those looking to start a career in product management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Marketing Manager

Program Manager

Program Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and controlling a program. They work with a team of project managers to ensure that the program goals are met. This course will help you build a foundation in product management, including the product lifecycle, personas, value creation, and SWOT analysis. You will also learn about the job opportunities in product management and the industry-standard Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®. This course is a valuable investment for those looking to start a career in product management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and controlling a project. They work with a team of project stakeholders to ensure that the project goals are met. This course will help you build a foundation in product management, including the product lifecycle, personas, value creation, and SWOT analysis. You will also learn about the job opportunities in product management and the industry-standard Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®. This course is a valuable investment for those looking to start a career in product management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. They work with stakeholders to gather requirements and develop solutions. This course will help you build a foundation in product management, including the product lifecycle, personas, value creation, and SWOT analysis. You will also learn about the job opportunities in product management and the industry-standard Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®. This course is a valuable investment for those looking to start a career in product management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data. They work with stakeholders to identify trends and patterns and develop insights. This course will help you build a foundation in product management, including the product lifecycle, personas, value creation, and SWOT analysis. You will also learn about the job opportunities in product management and the industry-standard Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®. This course is a valuable investment for those looking to start a career in product management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications. They work with stakeholders to gather requirements and develop solutions. This course may be useful for those looking to start a career in software engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

UX Designer

UX Designers are responsible for designing the user experience of software applications. They work with stakeholders to gather requirements and develop solutions. This course may be useful for those looking to start a career in UX design.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts are responsible for testing software applications to ensure that they meet quality standards. They work with stakeholders to identify defects and develop solutions. This course may be useful for those looking to start a career in quality assurance.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. They work with stakeholders to identify target markets and develop strategies. This course may be useful for those looking to start a career in marketing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for planning and executing business operations. They work with stakeholders to identify and develop strategies. This course may be useful for those looking to start a career in operations management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for developing and executing sales strategies. They work with stakeholders to identify target markets and develop strategies. This course may be useful for those looking to start a career in sales.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts are responsible for analyzing financial data and developing recommendations. They work with stakeholders to identify opportunities and risks. This course may be useful for those looking to start a career in financial analysis.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants are responsible for providing advice to businesses on how to improve their performance. They work with stakeholders to identify problems and develop solutions. This course may be useful for those looking to start a career in management consulting.

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