Top 5 Underrated Books In Product Strategy
There are thousands of product management books out there. Some are very good and have been written by famous and successful writers. Some have been written by famous and successful writers and are not very good. And there are some, that are really, really good and have been written by successful but not famous writers. These are the books that product managers need exposure to. Here are top 5 most underrated product strategy books.
Table of Contents
Sometimes there is more wisdoms in books that don't have highly paid promoters.
1. Product Roadmaps Relaunched: How to Set Direction while Embracing Uncertainty - C. Todd Lombardo, Bruce McCarthy, Evan Ryan, Michael Connors
A successful product roadmap stands as one of the paramount, transformative documents that an organization can formulate, disseminate, and perpetually refine. Indeed, this singular document possesses the potential to guide the entire organization towards the execution of company strategy.
This hands-on guide imparts the knowledge to construct an impactful product roadmap and illustrates its use to synchronize stakeholders and prioritize concepts and requests. In doing so, you'll acquire the skills to convey how your products will pave the way for the success of your customers and organization.
Irrespective of whether you're a product manager, product owner, business analyst, program manager, project manager, scrum master, lead developer, designer, development manager, entrepreneur, or business owner, this book is designed to enlighten you on how to the following:
- Articulate an inspiring vision and goals for your product
- Prioritize ruthlessly and scientifically
- Protect against pursuing seemingly good ideas without evaluation and prioritization
- Ensure alignment with stakeholders
- Inspire loyalty and over-delivery from your team
- Get your sales team working with you instead of against you
- Bring a user and buyer-centric approach to planning and decision-making
- Anticipate opportunities and stay ahead of the game
- Publish a comprehensive roadmap without overcommitting
Key Takeways
Some key takeaways in the book are:
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Good Roadmaps are built on a good vision Vision sets direction, you need to have a clear sense of where you are going to create a successful roadmap.
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Good Roadmaps are difficult Prioritize your work ruthlessly. Without it, you roadmap will be a road mess.
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Good Roadmaps are created together If you build a roadmap in isolation, you will fail. Bring everyone's view point and then priortize based the vision.
2. Product Management: in Practice A Real-World Guide to the Key Connective Role of the 21st Century - Matt LeMay
Product management has become a critical connective role for modern organizations, from small technology startups to global corporate enterprises. And yet the day-to-day work of product management remains largely misunderstood. In theory, product management is about building products that people love. The real-world practice of product management is often about difficult conversations, practical compromises, and hard-won incremental gains.
In this book, author Matt LeMay focuses on the CORE connective skills like communication, organization, research, execution that can build a successful product management practice across industries, organizations, teams, and toolsets.
For current and aspiring product managers, this book explores:
- On-the-ground tactics for facilitating collaboration and communication
- How to talk to users and work with executives
- The importance of setting clear and actionable goals
- Using roadmaps to connect and align your team
- A values-first approach to implementing Agile practices
- Common behavioral traps that turn good product managers bad
Key Takeways
Some key takeaways in the book are:
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Collaboration How do you collaborate with stakeholders when you are creating your product? Proper collaborative technique is a foundation to a successful product development and launch.
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Direction What's the most important goal for the business? Do you know what it is? If you want a successful product, figure this out first.
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Alignment Everyone needs to be aligned on what should be done next and why. Product Roadmaps are the key to this alignment.
3. Product Management For Dummies - Brian Lawley and Pamela Schure
As part of the popular "For Dummies" series, this book breaks down complex product management concepts into digestible, accessible content. The book covers a wide range of topics, from understanding the customer to defining a value proposition to launching a product. It's an excellent resource for anyone new to product management or looking to refresh their knowledge.
Product management plays a pivotal role in organizations. In fact, it's now considered the fourth most important title in corporate America―yet only a tiny fraction of product managers have been trained for this vital position. If you're one of the hundreds of thousands of people who hold this essential job―or simply aspire to break into a new role―Product Management For Dummies gives you the tools to increase your skill level and manage products like a pro.
From defining what product management is―and isn't―to exploring the rising importance of product management in the corporate world, this friendly and accessible guide quickly gets you up to speed on everything it takes to thrive in this growing field. It offers plain-English explanations of the product life cycle, market research, competitive analysis, market and pricing strategy, product roadmaps, the people skills it takes to effectively influence and negotiate, and so much more.
5.Product Mastery: From Good To Great Product Ownership - Geoff Watts
This book takes a deep dive into the role of product owner, a role that is particularly important in Agile development. Watts offers insights and advice on how to create a product strategy, how to prioritize features, and how to work effectively with a development team. The book also includes real-world examples and case studies, making it a practical guide for anyone in the role of product owner.
Scrum is the most successful framework for agile product development and much has been written about how to follow the Scrum process but the key to success is in the leadership skills of the product owner. Product Mastery explores the traits of the best product owners offering an insight into the difference between good and great product ownership and explaining how the best product owners are DRIVEN to be successful.
5. The Product Manager's Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Succeed as a Product Manager - Steven Haines
Written by a product management expert, this book provides a roadmap for the multifaceted role of product management. Haines covers everything from understanding market dynamics to creating product requirements to launching a product. The book also offers helpful tips on how to communicate effectively with stakeholders, manage teams, and align product strategy with business goals.
The world of business is moving at breakneck speed. More is being demanded of everyone--with fewer resources than ever. In no profession is this more apparent than Product Management.This bookprovides best practices, practical on-the-job advice, and a step-by-step blueprint for succeeding in Product Management. Whatever your level of experience--whether you're a novice product manager or seasoned Product Management leader--you’ll find everything you need to make consistent positive impacts on your business. With this practical guide in your hands, you have the most powerful tool available for increasing your productivity quickly and dramatically--in a way that is noticeable and measurable.
Wrapping Up
If you have read some of these books, you are in the minority, but you probably have understood the value delivered on these pages. The important aspect of this post is not in the books themselves, but in an understanding that there are other authors who might have gone through an experience that you are going through. These authors might have written about something that you can connect with. These authors might have written something in a way that made you go, I get it now. Exploring these books will give you a different perspective and will make you a lot more successful in life.
So, we hope these books inspire you, help you keep up with the emerging trends, and turn some heads when you launch your next big thing.
