In all three cases, managers got what we asked for, but not what we wanted. In the second example, I managed the team to a set of numbers that did not fully capture what I wanted. For many products, metrics often describe the customer acquisition goal in enough detail to provide sufficient management guidance. Let’s take a look. MORE >>

We previously looked at YourAM , a web-based application that automatically organize and manage business appointments in real time via the web and SMS, designed specially for small service-focused businesses that need to handle appointments for groups of people. Here’s a similar service – TimeCenter ( www.TimeCenter.com ). MORE >>

Tags: product management startups MORE >>

illustrates this with humor for each of fifty dumb mistakes that smart managers don’t make. Managers who speak critically of team members, customers, friends or family members, have something going on within them that needs to be examined. Real leaders embrace and manage these feelings, rather than complain to associates. MORE >>

Recently I was asked by a very smart CTO: "I understand the need for a great user experience designer, but if we have a strong designer, and that person is paired with a strong technology lead, do we really still need a product manager?". For many teams, the contribution of the product manager is not at all clear. See [link]. MORE >>