Calling Product Managers in the Cambridge area...

[Colin Millerchip]

UPDATE 25-Sept-09: Following the meeting last night, we now have a nascent group who plan to meet on a monthly basis. There's a separate ning network to help us co-ordinate our activites -- see http://product-management.ning.com/.
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Many of us find our way into product management through informal routes, and wonder whether we’re “doing it right”. Some of us are lucky enough to get some training in product management from organisation like Pragmatic Marketing Inc.

If you’re interested in finding out what other product managers do, the tools & resources they use, what works & what doesn’t, and maybe even get help and advice, then please post here. I’m interested in setting up a local group to discuss any & all things product management.

Cheers,


Colin.

[David Reynaga]

Hi Colin

I look after the Product Management team at Imerge ltd (based in Bar Hill)

I was forwarded your link by someone who gave us some "Agile Product Management" for SW development

I would like to be added to group and receive more information.

Thanks

David Reynaga
Head of Future Products

[Don Wildman]

Strange how information flows. A colleague based in Austin Texas forwarded this to me earlier today.
I wandered into Product Management some years back and recently enjoyed the Pragmatic Marketing sessions.

I am just off on vacation and will follow up when I get back to Milton in mid-August.

Cheers
Don W

[Mark Dalgarno]

Well I'm not a Product Manager but as you know have an interest in PM.

[Ben Beaumont]

Hi Colin,

I'd love to know what I am actually supposed to be doing. Sign me up.

Thanks,

Ben

[Benjamin John Rees]

Yep - count me in. Something in Cambridge would be great..

Ben

[Kieran Cooper]

Hi Colin,

I'd love to get involved too. I'm not in a PM role at the moment, but I'm really interested in finding out more from those of you who are!

Thanks
Kieran

[Shaun Hughes]

Hi Colin,

Great idea.

My constant conundrum is the struggle between tactics and strategy, with tactics taking 99% of my time. Yet I have a sneeking suspicion that good strategy is where the new revenue is, so why is it so hard to get the time/focus? Perhaps part of the problem is that these are fuzzy terms that encompass a huge array of activities, so it's not clear what are the best activities to achieve a profitable strategy. For example, maintaining/improving quality is tactical, but without it any strategy will ulitimately fail.

Another aspect is what background you come from. I'm mostly technical, but have a strong research history. The technical side is fully aware of all the tactical issues that must be solved asap. But the research side would love to be goofing off to conferences and networking meetings to expand my horizons and look out for new strategic directions. It's hard to justify that having fun is more important than doing the obvious. Would it be easier if I came from a marketing background, and could close my eyes to technical issues?

Any suggestions for more clarity most appreciated.

Cheers, Shaun.

[Colin Howlett]

Colin,

As you know, I'm in. I'll be dragging colleagues along too...

Colin

[Leon Smith]

Some of us quite rapidly.

Leon.

Colin Howlett said:

Colin,

As you know, I'm in. I'll be dragging colleagues along too...

Colin

[Duncan Corbett]

Another "dragged in" colleague (but not kicking and screaming - honest)

[David Duffett]

Colin,

Good idea. I'm another of Scientia's product managers happy to be dragged in.

David

[Damien Golding]

Hi Colin,

My training was in house at Sun Microsystems about 10 years ago, so looking forward to getting up to date!

Damien