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University System of Maryland

Product Management Fundamentals

University System of Maryland and University of Maryland, College Park via edX

Overview

Product management is one of the fastest growing and most lucrative jobs available today. Companies have awoken to the desperate need for product managers to create products that customers love, that integrate design, functionality, and business solutions. In our course, we define the fundamentals of product management and why this role is so coveted as a launch pad for future CEOs and startup founders.

To be effective, product managers need a clear understanding of their jobs and duties. They also need a clear understanding of the required skills and competencies. An appreciation of these roles, responsibilities, skills, and capabilities is also beneficial for stakeholders and team members who collaborate with product managers.

This course investigates the framework for success in product management by defining the product manager’s position in an organization and the key responsibilities. We will examine the skills and competencies most critical to carrying out those responsibilities. To further improve your understanding of product management, we will discuss how product managers engage with the product team and stakeholders to create and manage successful products.

Product managers must also know how to establish, organize, and lead a team. They must know the typical product development life cycle and be able to select the right development methodology for the product and the target market. To meet these challenges to product team leadership, we will consider the phases of product development and the roles that product managers play in each step. We’ll examine a variety of team structures and product development methodologies, and the importance of establishing a team charter. Lastly, we will also explore the opportunities and challenges of market development and commercialization. We’ll provide an orientation to key marketing concepts critical to developing and commercializing innovative products and services.

Syllabus

Module 1: Roles and Responsibilities of the Product Manager

Module 2: Managing Innovative Product Teams

Module 3: Marketing Challenges and Guiding Principles

Module 4: Customer Development and Crossing the Chasm

Taught by

James Green

Reviews

4.9 rating, based on 203 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Product Management Fundamentals

  • I am taking the whole Product Management Professional Certificate and this is the first course. What I like is the strict structure and organization of this course. The instructor is a great pro. I would like to have PDFs of the slides. I don't know how to get them.

    Thank you very much.
  • Both Proffesors explain everything clearly.I did this program whole day with my time.becuase of the covid situation and free of university lectures.

    I got a idea about who is a production manager and basicall how we market a business .

    Thank you
    Greetings from Srilanka
    Bishmi Dissanayake
  • DUNCAN SINO
    This course is very relevant to any individual or business enterprise that has a product to offer. The design and presentation is just top of the class and easy to master and put into practice. I feel well positioned to head the role of product Management specialist. I strongly encourage everyone to take up this course and will realise how important it is to relook the product life cycle as well as relook at the 4p of marketing
  • Anonymous

    Anonymous completed this course.

    It was quite a comprehensive introduction into the product management space, well structured to touch on all aspects without overloading you with information. It did a great job highlighting the difference in the roles of a project manager, product manager and a program manager. Lots of pertinent information towards giving you a clear understanding of the mindset of an entrepreneur when it comes to startups in the business world and how to successfully approach that.

    All in all, a great introductory course to improve knowledge about the role of a product manager and the tools to succeed in that role.
  • I would like to thank everyone who gave every minute of their time to create this interesting content, thanks
  • Stephen Helgeson
    I recently felt the need to re-ground myself in the foundations of product management. I've been doing it a while, and a lot has changed (especially the shift to Lean methodologies). This course was really quite solid. It definitely re-grounded me,...
  • A breif and concise concept of product managment. I have now a cleared vision regarding agile framework and different marketing stratgies.
  • Profile image for Unique Akhi
    Unique Akhi
    The Profuct Management Fundamentals course is truly encompassing and greatly recommended for anyone just looking to start a career in Product management. The course is well structured such that as you progress from one class to the other, you have progressive knowledge. All important fundamentals of product management such as how to draw PRDs, stakeholder management, building for B2B vs building for B2C, achieving Problem- solution fit, product-market fit, etc are all adequately covered
  • Anonymous
    Truly enjoyed and benefitted from this course. I feel confident that I can in fact navigate product management (and developing a business) based on its contents.

    I loved how the topics were broken down - for someone who learns the way I do, it helps if the information is brief and straight to the point. Also liked the fact that I could repeat the videos to make notes, especially since resources such as transcripts are not made available for the uncertified version I took.
  • Profile image for Hicham Benabou
    Hicham Benabou
    This is an amazing course that UMD have made for product manager. I have taken many entrepreneurship courses from HarvardX, MIT and Queensland university, but no one brought the same costumer understanding method such as this course.
    Thank you again UMD. I will follow with the next course and probably with the entire professional certificate of product management.
  • Olushola Richard Adefemi
    This is what i term "Product Management" dummies. Well broken down, easy to understand, forms an unforgettable picture of the product life cycle and the role of a product manager in ones mind. I recommend this course to anyone looking for a best in class + simple explanation of Product Management
  • Anonymous
    Great course to introduce oneself to what Product Management position does, specifically in a StartUp. I considere all the information given on this course as a must for any person who is interested either in a related position or about to start a new business.
  • Really fantastic course that I learned a lot from. Very comprehensive with actionable steps for business, design, engineering, marketing. Also extracted insights from notable startup / product management books e.g. "Four Steps to Epiphany".
  • Anonymous
    It was really an amazing time I had taking this course every step was so perfect
    To those seeking to find a course on product management, this is a fresh start for you and it has been designed in such a way it felt like the traditional class.
  • Anonymous
    Very objective, particle and necessary curse for those who are intend or are acting in product or project management role. Really like the cures and the teacher, his examples and explanations are very precise .
  • Anonymous
    I have been working in business development for many years and the course is greatly helping me fill some of the gaps in my knowledge.
    So far I have particularly enjoyed the last module on taking the product to market.
  • Anonymous
    The course material is comprehensive and simplified within a clear learning map. The trainers express great efforts in explaining each part in clear and simple way that link to the practice of the knowledge and skills.
  • Anonymous
    Informative, insightful, and concise. I left with a lot of great questions sparking ideas in my head about how I would approach different product management tasks for different kinds of organizations.
  • Anonymous
    This course is a good introduction to the topic of product management. It goes through the stages of product development that await every manager. It also points out the tools you can use. I recommend
  • Anonymous
    I really want to say“Thank you” to all contributors of this course, it's really useful to give a foundmental of Product management. It's a good bridge to this role.

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