As organizations scale, Product Operations (Product Ops) teams are often introduced to help Product Managers manage the growing complexity of product development. However, Marty Cagan emphasizes that while Product Ops can be valuable in reducing operational burdens, there are core responsibilities that Product Managers should never delegate.
What Product Managers Can Delegate to Product Ops:
1. Run-Time Production Issues: Product Ops can manage production issues, bugs, and ensure the smooth operation of live products, freeing the Product Manager to focus on future product development.
2. Creating Efficiency Systems: By developing systems and tools that reduce manual processes, Product Ops enables Product Managers to focus on strategy and discovery.
3. Managing Data & Reporting: While Product Ops can assist in managing data and preparing reports, itโs essential that Product Managers still stay close to the decision-making process informed by this data.
What Product Managers Should Never Delegate:
1. Direct Access to Customers: Product Managers must engage directly with customers, without gatekeepers (including Product Ops, Customer Support, or Sales), to gain crucial insights for product success.
2. Direct Access to Engineers: Collaboration with engineers is key. Product Managers must work directly with them, not through intermediaries, to ensure both technical feasibility and alignment with customer needs.
3. Direct Access to Stakeholders: Maintaining unfiltered access to stakeholders ensures alignment between product strategy and business goals. This is critical for delivering products that succeed in the market.
๐ Key Takeaway: Product success isnโt achieved by adopting processes or frameworksโit depends on building skilled performers across Product Management, Design, and Engineering.
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