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Product Management

Product Council

What is a Product Council?
Definition of Product Council
A customer product council represents an inaugural group formally comprised of diverse authentic permanent representative advisors assembled directly from target users customer constituencies meeting bi-monthly or quarterly in person when possible. They provide guided strategy feedback, ideation niche insights, current offerings periodic feedback download sessions as well as sounding board future planning support sessions regularly advocating genuine user needs better aligning providers offerings to dynamic market problems solving evolving jobs-to-be-done progressively.

In the world of product management and operations, the term 'Product Council' is often thrown around. But what does it mean? This glossary entry aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the term, its applications, and its significance in the field of product management and operations.

Product Council is a strategic group within an organization that is responsible for making key decisions related to product development, management, and operations. It is a critical component of a product-driven organization, and its role can vary depending on the size and nature of the organization.

Product Council: An Overview

The Product Council is a cross-functional team within an organization that is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the product portfolio. This team is typically composed of senior leaders from various departments, including product management, engineering, marketing, sales, and customer success.

The primary role of the Product Council is to make decisions on product strategy, including the development of new products, the enhancement of existing products, and the discontinuation of underperforming products. The council also plays a key role in aligning the product strategy with the overall business strategy of the organization.

Role of the Product Council

The Product Council plays a critical role in shaping the product strategy of an organization. It is responsible for making key decisions related to product development, management, and operations. This includes decisions on product prioritization, resource allocation, and strategic direction.

The council also plays a crucial role in aligning the product strategy with the overall business strategy of the organization. This involves coordinating with other departments, such as sales, marketing, and customer success, to ensure that the product strategy supports the broader business goals.

Composition of the Product Council

The Product Council is typically composed of senior leaders from various departments within the organization. This includes representatives from product management, engineering, marketing, sales, and customer success. The exact composition of the council can vary depending on the size and nature of the organization.

The council is usually chaired by the Chief Product Officer (CPO) or a similar role. The chairperson is responsible for leading the council meetings, facilitating discussions, and ensuring that the council's decisions are implemented effectively.

Product Management in the Product Council

Product management plays a crucial role in the Product Council. The product managers are responsible for representing the voice of the customer in the council meetings. They provide insights into customer needs, market trends, and competitive landscape, which are critical for making informed product decisions.

Product managers also play a key role in communicating the council's decisions to the rest of the organization. They ensure that all stakeholders are aligned with the product strategy and understand the rationale behind the council's decisions.

Role of the Product Manager in the Product Council

The product manager plays a critical role in the Product Council. They are responsible for representing the voice of the customer and providing insights into market trends and competitive landscape. This information is crucial for making informed product decisions.

The product manager also plays a key role in communicating the council's decisions to the rest of the organization. They ensure that all stakeholders are aligned with the product strategy and understand the rationale behind the council's decisions.

Skills Required for a Product Manager in the Product Council

A product manager in the Product Council needs to have a deep understanding of the market, the customers, and the product. They need to be able to analyze market trends, understand customer needs, and make strategic product decisions.

Additionally, a product manager in the council needs to have strong communication and leadership skills. They need to be able to effectively communicate the council's decisions to the rest of the organization and lead cross-functional teams towards the execution of the product strategy.

Product Operations in the Product Council

Product operations is another critical component of the Product Council. The product operations team is responsible for ensuring that the product strategy is effectively executed. They coordinate with various departments, manage resources, and oversee the product development process.

The product operations team also plays a key role in tracking the performance of the products and providing feedback to the council. This information is crucial for making informed decisions about product enhancements and future product development.

Role of the Product Operations Team in the Product Council

The product operations team plays a crucial role in the Product Council. They are responsible for ensuring that the product strategy is effectively executed. This involves coordinating with various departments, managing resources, and overseeing the product development process.

The product operations team also plays a key role in tracking the performance of the products and providing feedback to the council. This information is crucial for making informed decisions about product enhancements and future product development.

Skills Required for a Product Operations Team in the Product Council

A product operations team in the Product Council needs to have a deep understanding of the product development process, resource management, and cross-functional coordination. They need to be able to manage resources effectively, coordinate with various departments, and oversee the product development process.

Additionally, a product operations team in the council needs to have strong analytical skills. They need to be able to track the performance of the products, analyze data, and provide feedback to the council. This information is crucial for making informed product decisions.

Conclusion

The Product Council plays a critical role in shaping the product strategy of an organization. It is composed of senior leaders from various departments and is responsible for making key decisions related to product development, management, and operations.

The role of the Product Council can vary depending on the size and nature of the organization. However, regardless of the organization's size or nature, the council plays a crucial role in aligning the product strategy with the overall business strategy of the organization.