Matt LeMay

Product management is a new role in the world of business. Mainly built around building and deploying technology, product managers began to spring up in early-21st-century corporations. They have been pioneered by organizations around computer technologies, like Intel, Google, or Microsoft. As common with most new roles, figuring out how to meet the challenge on day one can be daunting. To fill that need, Matt LeMay provides a book filled with sage advice from somewhere who has been there before.

Of note, this book exists in a second edition, which does not have an audiobook (yet). Therefore, I read this book instead. The revised edition appears to have its subtitle revised to target those who aspire to become a product manager.

LeMay offers anecdotal stories and pearls of wisdom to spur product managers on to producing great works. He often tries to de-glamorize the role by emphasizing how much grunt work is required. (It isn’t all mimicry of Steve Jobs!) He contends that this job is about the only managerial title without direct reports, despite heavy responsibility and accountability. This type of advice helps those new to the role or ambitious to achieve the position, but those already exposed and with a good mentor might not need this advisory approach. No new research data or philosophy is presented here, unfortunately, just mentorship based on experience.

LeMay’s most popular chapter, no doubt, consists of his takes on Agile Methodology. In it, he argues for a pragmatic approach to now-popular Agile management methodologies and their many derivatives. A lot of people fall in love with a “perfect” Agile process – the how’s – instead of understanding the why’s. By doing so, they end up missing the opportunity to improve their process critically – which runs contrary to the ethos of Agile to begin with! Many advanced product labs, alongside original leaders of the Agile movement, have realized this, but LeMay gives wider published voice to their objections.

This book clearly most helps for early career folk who want to master the role of a product manager. It can also help those who, like me, want to cross-train in someone else’s job to learn how to work with their co-workers better. The skills and broader perspectives described here can frankly benefit anyone working in a production environment. Nonetheless, this book best excels at demystifying a complex job to aspirants while coaching how to avoid common mistakes.… (más)