Product Management: An Introduction
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Product Management: An Introduction
This course is part of multiple programs.
Instructor: Rav Ahuja
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What you'll learn
Summarize the roles, responsibilities, skills, competencies, and knowledge requirements for a product manager’s success.
Examine the end-to-end product management lifecycle and the role the product manager plays that drives product success.
Investigate “value creation” and the contributions of the product manager that potentially add value to a product.
Compare and contrast possible career paths in product management and the certifications that will help you progress in the field.
Details to know
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There are 5 modules in this course
In today’s fast-changing global market, companies need skilled product managers to develop breakthrough products or to expand their existing offerings. By the end of this course, you will understand what a product manager does in their role and the skills you need to become one.
This introductory course is a valuable investment for those looking to start a career in product management. Learn key product management concepts such as the product lifecycle, personas, value creation, and SWOT analysis. Gain an understanding of the job opportunities in product management and the industry-standard Guide to the Product Management Body of Knowledge, ProdBoK®. The hands-on labs provide opportunities to investigate product management in simulated real-world settings. You’ll hear from industry experts discussing their points of view, so you learn about their first-hand experiences. This course is the first in a series of courses, which, once completed, will earn you the IBM Product Management Professional Certificate. Anyone can take this beginner-level course, which does not require any prior Product Management skills or background.
In this module, you will learn about the role of the product manager and the key skills that are important for success. You will learn about a product manager's responsibilities and persona. You will also list the skills, knowledge, and business acumen required to be an effective product manager.
What's included
11 videos5 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt2 plugins
11 videos•Total 58 minutes
- Course Introduction: Product Management•3 minutes
- Introduction to IBM Product Management Professional Certificate •4 minutes
- Meet the Experts•6 minutes
- Define Product Management•4 minutes
- Role of a Product Manager•6 minutes
- Introduction to the AI Product Manager Role•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Role of Product Manager•6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Product Manager Skills•8 minutes
- The Product Manager's Business Acumen •5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Business Acumen and the Product Manager•7 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: A Top Executive's View on Product Management - Part 1•5 minutes
5 readings•Total 37 minutes
- Course Overview•8 minutes
- Helpful Tips for Course Completion•10 minutes
- Product Manager Skill Inventory•10 minutes
- Module 1 Summary: Product Manager Profession Overview•1 minute
- Module 1 Glossary: Product Manager Profession Overview•8 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
- Module 1 Quiz : Product Manager Profession Overview•30 minutes
- The Role of the Product Manager•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 3 minutes
- (Optional) Key Skills•3 minutes
2 plugins•Total 45 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Review a Product Development Scenario •30 minutes
- Activity: Gauge Your Interest in Typical Product Management Tasks•15 minutes
In this module, you will be introduced to product and product management. You will learn about what a product is and what a typical day in the life of a product manager looks like. You will also learn which personality traits are most critical for a product manager, what the role of a product manager looks like in an organization, and what kind of challenges the product managers face. Next, you will focus on the life cycle of a product. You will learn about the four phases of the product lifecycle, the seven-step product management lifecycle, and the key deliverables of the product management life cycle. You will also learn about the most critical tasks product managers accomplish, the key functional area expertise that they must have, and the key roles and stakeholders they must collaborate with.
What's included
13 videos5 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt3 plugins
13 videos•Total 75 minutes
- What Is a Product?•6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Your Experience•7 minutes
- A Day in the Life of a Product Manager•4 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Challenges of Product Management•7 minutes
- Soft Skills for a Product Manager•4 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Personality Traits of a Product Manager•8 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: A Top Executive's View on Product Management - Part 2•7 minutes
- The Product Lifecycle•4 minutes
- The Product Management Lifecycle•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: The Product Management Lifecycle•7 minutes
- Product Management Functional Areas•6 minutes
- The Product Management Team and Stakeholders•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Critical Roles and Collaboration•7 minutes
5 readings•Total 45 minutes
- Forming the Right Personality•10 minutes
- The AI Product Manager•8 minutes
- Product Management Lifecycle Key Deliverables•10 minutes
- Module 2 Summary: The Product Lifecycle and the Product Manager•7 minutes
- Module 2 Glossary: The Product Lifecycle and the Product Manager•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
- Module 2 Graded Quiz: The Product Lifecycle and the Product Manager•30 minutes
- Product and Product Management•10 minutes
- Product Lifecycles•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 1 minute
- (Optional) Strengths and Challenges?•1 minute
3 plugins•Total 75 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: The Role of a Product Manager•30 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Case Study - Review a Product concept•30 minutes
- Activity: Identify Tasks in the Product Management Lifecycle•15 minutes
In this module, you will learn about the fundamental concepts of product management. It focuses on value creation. You will learn about value creation and entrepreneurship and the connection between a product manager and an entrepreneur. You will also learn about critical thinking and the product manager. It also introduces you to the product management and marketing body of knowledge or ProdBOK. It has a practice quiz on product management opportunities. It also focuses on the link between portfolio management and project management. You will learn about the portfolio approach, its benefits and challenges, and the challenges to develop a product strategy effectively. You will also learn where the roles of a product manager and project manager intersect. It also covers project management’s predictive and adaptive lifecycles and a product manager’s role.
What's included
11 videos5 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt1 plugin
11 videos•Total 57 minutes
- Value Creation•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Creating Value•7 minutes
- The Product Manager and Entrepreneurial Connection•4 minutes
- Critical Thinking and the Product Manager•3 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Thoughts on Critical Thinking •7 minutes
- Summarize the Portfolio Approach•5 minutes
- Portfolio Approach: Benefits and Challenges•4 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Product Strategy Challenges•6 minutes
- The Product Manager and the Project Manager•6 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Project and Product Manager Relationship•6 minutes
- Project Management Lifecycles•5 minutes
5 readings•Total 43 minutes
- Describe an Entrepreneur•8 minutes
- Portfolio Approach Cheatsheet•10 minutes
- Case Study: Developing a high-impact product•10 minutes
- Module 3 Summary: Product Management Fundamentals•5 minutes
- Module 3 Glossary: Product Management Fundamentals•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
- Module 3 Graded Quiz: Product Management Fundamentals•30 minutes
- Value Creation•10 minutes
- Portfolio Management and the Project Management Link•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 1 minute
- (Optional) Strengths and Potential Challenges•1 minute
1 plugin•Total 5 minutes
- Activity: Identify Product and Project Manager Tasks•5 minutes
In this module, you will explore the product management opportunities and certifications. It summarizes the current employment opportunities in today’s work environment and covers the Product Management and Marketing Body of Knowledge (ProdBOK) and the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM). You will also learn about the best way to prepare for a product manager role and the background experience required to become a product manager. It also covers certifications and resume building. You will learn about the certificates available in the product management career.
What's included
4 videos4 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt2 plugins
4 videos•Total 22 minutes
- Employment Opportunities in Product Management•5 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Preparation to Become a Product Manager•7 minutes
- Improve Your Product Manager Resume•3 minutes
- Expert Viewpoints: Product Manager Certification and Resume Building•7 minutes
4 readings•Total 35 minutes
- Current State of Product Management•10 minutes
- Introduction to the Product Management and Marketing Body of Knowledge (ProdBOK)•10 minutes
- Module 4 Glossary: Product Management Opportunities and Certifications•10 minutes
- Module 4 Summary: Product Management Opportunities and Certifications •5 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
- Module 4 Graded Quiz: Product Management Opportunities and Certifications•30 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Product Management Opportunities•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 1 minute
- (Optional) Thoughts on Product Management •1 minute
2 plugins•Total 52 minutes
- Hands-on Lab: Identifying How Product Management Can Help •45 minutes
- Podcast: The Rise of the AI Product Manager•7 minutes
Welcome to Module 5. This module introduces your final project. You will analyze a product management scenario, after that, you are expected to give a retrospective of the team's successes and areas of improvement related to the product development team. Additionally, you will attempt a 25-question graded quiz to assess your comprehension of the key concepts taught in the course. We end the module with our congratulations and recommend the next steps to continue your product management journey.
What's included
3 readings1 assignment1 plugin
3 readings•Total 13 minutes
- Final Project Scenario•10 minutes
- Congratulations and Next Steps•2 minutes
- Thanks from the Course Team•1 minute
1 assignment•Total 75 minutes
- Final Exam•75 minutes
1 plugin•Total 60 minutes
- Final Project Lab•60 minutes
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Reviewed on Feb 14, 2025
This course provides an excellent introduction to product management, encompassing the product lifecycle and the role of product managers in developing products that deliver value to consumers.
Reviewed on Dec 9, 2025
Awesome coverage of the Product Management topics and great slides and viewpoints from the instructors and contributors.
Reviewed on Feb 24, 2025
this course really help to get the knowledge to understand what is the meaning for the role of product manager and keep going to learn more.
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