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Product Management
Product Strategy
Agile Product Management
Product Roadmap
Product Optimisation
Product Management
Product Strategy
Agile Product Management
Product Roadmap
Product Optimisation
ARTICLE #44
Table of contents
Product Management Principles: How they benefit product managers?
Product Management
Product Strategy
Agile Product Management
Product Roadmap
Product Optimisation
Product Management
Product Strategy
Agile Product Management
Product Roadmap
Product Optimisation
Written by:
5 min read
Updated on: July 4, 2024
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Product management can feel like managing a mini-startup—there’s freedom to innovate, a real chance to boost business growth, and plenty of cross-team action. On paper, it’s a dream job for anyone with an entrepreneurial streak. In reality, however, it’s easy to feel lost in a sea of changing “best practices.” What looks great this quarter might fizzle out next quarter.
Rather than chasing every new trick or tool, it makes sense to lean on core principles. These fundamental ideas stay relevant over time and can help you steer your product in the right direction. Whether you are an entry-level product manager, a startup founder, a team leader, or a chief product officer, these guiding points could well reshape your approach—and your results.
Product management can feel like managing a mini-startup—there’s freedom to innovate, a real chance to boost business growth, and plenty of cross-team action. On paper, it’s a dream job for anyone with an entrepreneurial streak. In reality, however, it’s easy to feel lost in a sea of changing “best practices.” What looks great this quarter might fizzle out next quarter.
Rather than chasing every new trick or tool, it makes sense to lean on core principles. These fundamental ideas stay relevant over time and can help you steer your product in the right direction. Whether you are an entry-level product manager, a startup founder, a team leader, or a chief product officer, these guiding points could well reshape your approach—and your results.
1. Customer-centric approach
1. Customer-centric approach
First, think like the people you are building for. The better you understand their needs, the simpler it becomes to create a product they’ll actually use and enjoy.
Listen first. Collect real feedback from surveys, user interviews, and market studies.
Build accurate user profiles. Capture how and why people behave a certain way, so you don’t waste time solving the wrong problem.
Trace every stage of the user’s path. From initial awareness to ongoing support, pinpoint moments where you can improve their experience.
First, think like the people you are building for. The better you understand their needs, the simpler it becomes to create a product they’ll actually use and enjoy.
Listen first. Collect real feedback from surveys, user interviews, and market studies.
Build accurate user profiles. Capture how and why people behave a certain way, so you don’t waste time solving the wrong problem.
Trace every stage of the user’s path. From initial awareness to ongoing support, pinpoint moments where you can improve their experience.
2. Influential leadership
Good product managers know the market. Great product managers also inspire others to achieve top-notch work. you are not just ticking boxes; you are guiding a team towards a shared vision.
Set the tone. Show your crew you are committed by working hard, staying curious, and maintaining high standards.
Create a unifying mission. Make sure everyone understands what success looks like and why you are striving for it.
Good product managers know the market. Great product managers also inspire others to achieve top-notch work. you are not just ticking boxes; you are guiding a team towards a shared vision.
Set the tone. Show your crew you are committed by working hard, staying curious, and maintaining high standards.
Create a unifying mission. Make sure everyone understands what success looks like and why you are striving for it.
3. Clear vision and strategic planning
Without a strong vision (plus a well-organised plan), your product can lose direction. Random features pile up, and the end result might do a bit of everything but excel at nothing.
Articulate the outcome you want. How will your product change users’ daily routines—or your company’s bottom line?
Invite feedback from the team. Ask about potential challenges, resources they might need, and how they define success.
Plot the steps. From initial objectives to identifying major priorities, a structured plan keeps everyone aligned.
Without a strong vision (plus a well-organised plan), your product can lose direction. Random features pile up, and the end result might do a bit of everything but excel at nothing.
Articulate the outcome you want. How will your product change users’ daily routines—or your company’s bottom line?
Invite feedback from the team. Ask about potential challenges, resources they might need, and how they define success.
Plot the steps. From initial objectives to identifying major priorities, a structured plan keeps everyone aligned.
4. Value-driven product development
At the end of the day, you are in business to deliver something worthwhile. Every feature, update, or tweak should carry some genuine benefit, whether its making customers’ lives easier or helping the company’s profits grow.
Prioritise with purpose. Don’t let the loudest requests or shiniest trends lead you astray. Keep an eye on what truly moves the needle.
Employ selection frameworks. Methods like MoSCoW (Must, Should, Could, Won’t) or RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) can help you decide what to tackle first.
Balance short- and long-term wins. Quick fixes can be helpful, but don’t let them distract you from major opportunities.
At the end of the day, you are in business to deliver something worthwhile. Every feature, update, or tweak should carry some genuine benefit, whether its making customers’ lives easier or helping the company’s profits grow.
Prioritise with purpose. Don’t let the loudest requests or shiniest trends lead you astray. Keep an eye on what truly moves the needle.
Employ selection frameworks. Methods like MoSCoW (Must, Should, Could, Won’t) or RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) can help you decide what to tackle first.
Balance short- and long-term wins. Quick fixes can be helpful, but don’t let them distract you from major opportunities.
5. Collaboration and communication
No product manager works alone—even if you sometimes wish you could lock yourself away for a solid brainstorming session. Keeping people in the loop encourages collective responsibility and smooth progress.
Bring the right folks together. Engineers, designers, marketers, sales reps, and support teams should be aware of each other’s efforts.
Streamline communication. Tools like Slack or Trello are handy, but clarity and consistency matter more than the platform itself.
Set clear touchpoints. Weekly check-ins or milestone reviews ensure everyone’s moving in the same direction.
No product manager works alone—even if you sometimes wish you could lock yourself away for a solid brainstorming session. Keeping people in the loop encourages collective responsibility and smooth progress.
Bring the right folks together. Engineers, designers, marketers, sales reps, and support teams should be aware of each other’s efforts.
Streamline communication. Tools like Slack or Trello are handy, but clarity and consistency matter more than the platform itself.
Set clear touchpoints. Weekly check-ins or milestone reviews ensure everyone’s moving in the same direction.
6. Agile and iterative product development
No matter how perfectly you plan, products evolve. Markets shift, user behaviour changes, and you spot new angles to explore. A rigid approach can leave you flat-footed.
Work in cycles. Divide tasks into smaller bites so you can react faster to user feedback or emerging business needs.
Use adaptable methods. Scrum, Extreme Programming, or Kanban can help product managers keep track of tasks and deliver frequent improvements.
Embrace regular reviews. Reflect on each cycle and incorporate lessons learned into the next round.
No matter how perfectly you plan, products evolve. Markets shift, user behaviour changes, and you spot new angles to explore. A rigid approach can leave you flat-footed.
Work in cycles. Divide tasks into smaller bites so you can react faster to user feedback or emerging business needs.
Use adaptable methods. Scrum, Extreme Programming, or Kanban can help product managers keep track of tasks and deliver frequent improvements.
Embrace regular reviews. Reflect on each cycle and incorporate lessons learned into the next round.
7. Data-driven decision making
Relying on instincts can be risky data provides a more dependable compass. While hunches have their place, robust metrics and user analysis confirm whether your guesses are on point.
Gather both numbers and opinions. User engagement stats and revenue figures matter but so do interviews and usability tests.
Stay curious about patterns. Spot emerging trends in user actions or feedback. If something’s not working, figure out why.
Refine and repeat. Use these findings to fine-tune features or pivot your approach if necessary.
Relying on instincts can be risky data provides a more dependable compass. While hunches have their place, robust metrics and user analysis confirm whether your guesses are on point.
Gather both numbers and opinions. User engagement stats and revenue figures matter but so do interviews and usability tests.
Stay curious about patterns. Spot emerging trends in user actions or feedback. If something’s not working, figure out why.
Refine and repeat. Use these findings to fine-tune features or pivot your approach if necessary.
8. Prioritisation and focus
You can’t do it all at once—unless you want a half-baked product. Zero in on what matters most, tackle that first, then move to the next big thing.
Link features to big-picture goals. Before approving a request, ask yourself how it lines up with the organisation’s overall direction.
Guard against scope creep. New ideas pop up constantly; keep a quick filter handy to avoid chasing illusions.
Manage resources carefully. Time, budget, and human energy are all limited. Spend them on tasks that offer tangible returns.
You can’t do it all at once—unless you want a half-baked product. Zero in on what matters most, tackle that first, then move to the next big thing.
Link features to big-picture goals. Before approving a request, ask yourself how it lines up with the organisation’s overall direction.
Guard against scope creep. New ideas pop up constantly; keep a quick filter handy to avoid chasing illusions.
Manage resources carefully. Time, budget, and human energy are all limited. Spend them on tasks that offer tangible returns.
9. Risk management
Every product initiative carries hidden threats. Some are small annoyances, others can derail the entire operation if ignored. By planning for them early, you stand a better chance of staying on track.
Identify dangers. Think about market changes, technical hiccups, internal politics—any factor that might cause a detour.
Assess the potential fallout. How likely is each issue, and how badly could it hurt?
Plan responses in advance. That might mean shifting timelines, adding temporary support, or having a Plan B for your tech stack.
Every product initiative carries hidden threats. Some are small annoyances, others can derail the entire operation if ignored. By planning for them early, you stand a better chance of staying on track.
Identify dangers. Think about market changes, technical hiccups, internal politics—any factor that might cause a detour.
Assess the potential fallout. How likely is each issue, and how badly could it hurt?
Plan responses in advance. That might mean shifting timelines, adding temporary support, or having a Plan B for your tech stack.
10. Innovation and continuous learning
The world of product management doesn’t stand still. Different methods, technologies, and user preferences change constantly, so a “we’ve always done it this way” approach can lead to stagnation.
Stay up to date. Scan tech blogs, attend virtual conferences, or chat with peers. There’s always something new to learn.
Reflect on past projects. Share outcomes—both good and bad—with your team. Mistakes become gold mines for learning if you are open about them.
Explore better strategies. Whether it’s new design concepts or updated processes, remain open to adjustments that serve your users.
The world of product management doesn’t stand still. Different methods, technologies, and user preferences change constantly, so a “we’ve always done it this way” approach can lead to stagnation.
Stay up to date. Scan tech blogs, attend virtual conferences, or chat with peers. There’s always something new to learn.
Reflect on past projects. Share outcomes—both good and bad—with your team. Mistakes become gold mines for learning if you are open about them.
Explore better strategies. Whether it’s new design concepts or updated processes, remain open to adjustments that serve your users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are product management principles important?
They act as your guiding stars, making sure every action remains aligned with the organisation’s larger purpose. They encourage frequent interaction with real users, unify the work of multiple departments, and highlight areas needing more attention.
What makes a good product principle?
It should be easy to remember, simple to apply, and point directly to your product’s broader goals. A strong principle helps teams maintain consistent standards and adapt successfully when the market or strategy evolves.
What is a product management framework?
It’s a structured method for shaping and rolling out a product from concept to tangible results. Many frameworks share similar phases—like discovery, definition, development, launch, and growth—but come with their own unique tools and approaches.
Final Thoughts
These ten principles are guidelines, not rigid rules carved in stone. Every company has its own quirks, and you’ll need to adapt. The beauty here is flexibility: you can take a principle, shape it to fit your team and context, and see how it enhances teamwork and user satisfaction. By weaving these core ideas into your daily routine, you’ll stand a better chance of delivering genuine value—not just another forgettable feature list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are product management principles important?
They act as your guiding stars, making sure every action remains aligned with the organisation’s larger purpose. They encourage frequent interaction with real users, unify the work of multiple departments, and highlight areas needing more attention.
What makes a good product principle?
It should be easy to remember, simple to apply, and point directly to your product’s broader goals. A strong principle helps teams maintain consistent standards and adapt successfully when the market or strategy evolves.
What is a product management framework?
It’s a structured method for shaping and rolling out a product from concept to tangible results. Many frameworks share similar phases—like discovery, definition, development, launch, and growth—but come with their own unique tools and approaches.
Final Thoughts
These ten principles are guidelines, not rigid rules carved in stone. Every company has its own quirks, and you’ll need to adapt. The beauty here is flexibility: you can take a principle, shape it to fit your team and context, and see how it enhances teamwork and user satisfaction. By weaving these core ideas into your daily routine, you’ll stand a better chance of delivering genuine value—not just another forgettable feature list.
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Work with us
Click to copy
work@for.co
- FOR® Brand. FOR® Future.
We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
Click to copy
Helsinki, FIN
info@for.fi
Click to copy
New York, NY
ny@for.co
Click to copy
Miami, FL
mia@for.co
Click to copy
Dubai, UAE
uae@for.co
Click to copy
Kyiv, UA
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Copyright © 2024 FOR®
Work with us
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We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
Click to copy
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Click to copy
New York, NY
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Click to copy
Miami, FL
mia@for.co
Click to copy
Dubai, UAE
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Copyright © 2024 FOR®