You already know that a “product” can obviously be more than just a physical item. A product is also not limited to something packaged that you can pull off a store shelf, or download. It can be any solution that addresses a specific desire, need, or problem for its users. However, more simply put, product is our birthright as human beings. The ability to produce things of value that can be bought, sold, used, consumed, iterated, and improved is one of the things that makes us uniquely human, and the advanced species on the planet.
Not that long ago, the product discipline was trapped somewhere in-between “manufacturing” and sales. There was the people who actually built the thing (developers, manufacturing)… and then the people who would bring the thing to market and sell/distribute it (sales, marketing). Only relatively recently have we realized that there is actually a codified and very necessary place for someone who can intentionally own the full product lifecycle and oversee the design, creation, and end-to-end experience with the thing (read: product).
In the recent past, I have been asked more than once, “don’t you think Generative AI will really take over the role of a Product Manager?” GenAI is itself a product of our own making, and one that has the potential capability to vastly accelerate product lifecycles when leveraged the right way. But, the key thing to remember is that, at least at time of writing, GenAI can really only create what we ask of it inferred from previous human works, and it certainly does not have the ability to pull cross-functional teams together to execute on a product strategy. So, while it will absolutely re-define the functions of a PM (and plenty of other roles too) and in many ways make our jobs easier, I think we are a long way away from AI taking over this aspect of our humanity. If anything, product teams should lean into Generative AI tools wherever possible and figure out the lift they can provide for you and your customers.
Everything around us that holds value is, in-fact, a product to which the same principles of exceptional product management apply. This includes things like a brand, a process, and even you yourself. A great product brings value to those it touches and aligns with a person’s and/or organization’s overall vision. Our experience with every product tells a story. It’s up to us as product leaders to write that narrative for the benefit of our users and stakeholders and then tell that story. What is it that’s now possible, that never was before?
A successful product can drive business growth, customer loyalty, and brand reputation. When you understand your user’s world, their pain, and their desires you have the power to build a truly great product that will move mountains for them. But, the journey doesn’t end there. As great product leaders, we have an imperative to iterate, innovate, and adapt to changing market dynamics, customer demands and the opportunities the technology of the future puts in front of us. Yourself and the other products you work on every single day make a difference in the world. So, what is product really? It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.