May 2015 Issue

 

 

Best-Practice Article 
  • Do Some (Tactical) Product Management Before Your Next (Strategic) Acquisition

Blog 

Training Workshops

How to Manage Products to Deliver Solutions

 

Ask The Expert 

  • Voice of the Customer or Voice of the Sales Pipeline?

 

Product Management Playbook  

  • When You Don't Segment Your Markets, Every Opportunity is a Great Opportunity!

Proficientz Fast Facts
  • Products Solve Tactical User Problems - Solutions Solve Strategic Business Problems
Join Our Mailing List
 
Subscribe to The B2B Product Manager monthly magazine. It's one email each month with useful tips for managing, marketing and selling B2B solutions.
Quick Links... 
 


Agile continues to be a hot topic for product managers. This month we look at it from the developer's perspective too. It begs the question, "Does the software development process have any bearing on how market needs are uncovered?"

We also look at the value of a few simple artifacts from product management that go a long way toward eliminating buyer's remorse on your next acquisition. 

Don't forget about our upcoming workshops where you have a unique opportunity to learn how simple product management, marketing and sales enablement can be when the focus shifts from products to solutions. 

How to Manage Products to Deliver Solutions
 
Enjoy our May issue. 
 
 
John Mansour, Managing Partner
 
Do Some (Tactical) Product Management 
Before Your Next (Strategic) Acquisition


If your organization makes acquisitions strictly for financial gain, you needn't read any further. But if you're making acquisitions to solve a broader spectrum of market needs, read on.

Acquiring a company can be a lot like buying your next electronic gadget. There's the anticipation and excitement of "new" and the promise of many benefits. Then, just like your new gadget, the acquisition loses some of its sheen when reality doesn't live up to the hype - and there's never any shortage of hype!


 

Read the complete article.


Three Reasons Why Agile Isn't a Product Management Framework


I'm one of the world's biggest fans of Agile software development. I love the fact that teams are accountable for producing demonstrable units of work at the end of every sprint. I love that code is written in spoon-size bites so if it doesn't hit the mark, it's no big deal to toss it and start over. And I love the fact that Agile teams are always developing functionality with a clear customer purpose. At the risk of sounding too clich�, it's all good!

But let's call a spade a spade - Agile is a software development methodology. Period. It's not a product management framework, and here are three reasons why. 


How to Manage Products to Deliver Solutions

 

Three Things That Make Proficientz Training Unique

  1. It's B2B specific with emphasis on high-value, multi-product solutions. 
     
  2. Relevance - it's all about your products, your markets and your organization, so it sticks!
     
  3. You get an experienced advisor to ensure you're applying the training in the most beneficial manner for your unique circumstances. No wind-up trainers teaching from a script!

 

Learn

"How to Manage Products to Deliver Solutions."

It's product management & marketing that delivers value like you've never seen before! 

When you're focused on high-value solutions instead of products, you'll eliminate competing silos and constantly changing priorities because the emphasis is on customer impact, not product impact.

Ask The Expert
 

Voice of the Customer or Voice of the Sales Pipeline?

 

  • How cautious should we be with "voice of the customer" input when it's really "voice of the sales pipeline?"
     

 View Recent Entries

Product Management Playbook 

 

 

Tactics for improving day-to-day execution in the trenches! 

 

 

 

  • When You Don't Segment Your Markets, Every Opportunity is a Great Opportunity!
     
  • Business Requirements and Value Propositions - Using the Same Content for Different Purposes

View the Playbook 

Products Solve Tactical User Problems 
Solutions Solve Strategic Business Problems

 

In a nutshell, the difference between products and solutions is the difference between what buyers value and what users value. The good news: you don't have to choose one or the other. You can have your cake and eat it too!

 

Consider the needs of your buyers to be the focal point of your portfolio strategy. No single product or service packs enough punch to meet needs at that level. If your product managers collaborate and leverage multiple products from the portfolio to solve a broader set of needs, they'll deliver higher value solutions that are more strategic to buyers while simultaneously creating products that are more valuable to users.

 

Learn "How to Manage Products to Deliver Solutions"
and see how simple it is for product management & marketing to deliver value beyond the boundaries of each product!