This is a part time course.In this ten-week course, students will learn to navigate the product cycle, from evaluating users and managing a roadmap to creating an MVP and developing metrics.
Unit 1: Product Management FundamentalsIntroduction to Product Management- Define the multiple roles & responsibilities of a Product Manager
- Understand how customer needs translate into features of a product
- Identify the underlying risks and assumptions associated with new features
The Product Development Process - Understand each phase of a product life cycle, and the development stages needed to develop them
- Identify the different methods of developing a product
Unit 2: Getting to Product/Market FitCustomer Development - Identify a company's target customers
- Conduct effective customer interviews and site visits
- Understand the user's needs and current ways of working
Testing & Validating/Minimum Viable Product - Determine if an idea has product/market fit
- Explain the purpose and process of building an MVP
- Evolve an MVP to reach product/market fit
Business Model Design - Describe the components of a business model canvas and how they relate to each other
- Differentiate between types of business models
- Develop a business model around a new product idea
Market Research - Develop a competitive analysis of a feature or business
- Identify key differentiation between competitive offerings
- Utilize estimation and research in order to determine the opportunity size of a given product or feature
Unit 3: UX DesignPersonas & Empathy Maps - Synthesize findings from customer interviews into user personas
- Use empathy maps to better understand the feelings and needs of customers
- Distinguish how teams inside a company use personas and empathy maps differently
Features & User Stories - Translate customer needs into product features
- Comprehend how to create user stories in order to communicate user's needs with other stakeholders
- Learn how to effectively prioritize features
Wireframing & Storyboarding - Understand how to create wireframes in order to test ideas and identify potential problems before time is committed to developing the final product
- Become familiar with different methods of wireframing, including sketch, lo-fi, and hi-fi
- Understand how to create storyboards in order to communicate context, user flows, and interactions
Mid-Course Presentation - Present progress of projects and receive instructor and peer feedback
Unit 4: Business FundamentalsMetrics - Use the best metrics and KPIs to track a variety of subjects
- Identify tools to measure metrics
- Understand the concept of the customer conversion funnel
Pricing & Financial Modeling - Build a working financial model for a given audience
- Describe different pricing approaches for a new product
- Forecast demand and revenue for a new product
Unit 5: Communicating with StakeholdersFlexible Session - Focus on a topic selected by the instructor in order to provide deeper insight into a specific area of Product Management
Technology for Product Managers - Define what a tech stack is in the context of web applications, and identify associated technologies
- Articulate the business and technical implications of adding, removing or postponing product features
- Identify best practices for developing digital products with your technology team
Product Roadmap - Identify and define three distinct phases along a product's timeline: pre-launch, pre-market fit, and post-market fit
- Build a product roadmap
Project Management & Product Specs - Describe the Agile framework, and why it is important to development processes
- Understand how developers estimate task size
- Use different tools to track tasks and time
Presenting Your Product - Describe what makes a presentation effective, and how structure is used to impact the audience experience
- Employ practical techniques, processes, and communication styles to pitch your idea to stakeholders more effectively
Unit 6: Presentations & Next StepsFinal Presentations - Gain feedback from peers, instructor, and guest panelists that will identify strengths and areas for improvement
Moving Forward on Your PM Path - Understand the realities of the Product Management job market
- Understand job options across organizational types and career paths
- Access resources and tools for continued learning
School Notes:
For students enrolling in 12 week part time and immersive classes, it is not recommended that you book more than one class simultaneously.