Overview

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.

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 25-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.