Main Takeaways: -Product Managers are strategically focused while Product Owners are delivery/execution-focused. -A Product Owner is a hat worn by someone on the team during Scrum ceremonies. -Product Owners who function primarily as Project Managers working with Delivery Teams work in early stages when the CEO can be the Product Manager and the scope is very focused. When the CEO no longer has the time, ability, or desire to develop the Product Strategy or make detailed Product Trade-offs, then it’s time to start hiring Product Managers. Product Managers need to clearly define the handoffs between leadership on one side and Product Owners/Project Managers on the other in order to ensure a smooth, collaborative relationship.

1. Product Managers vs Product Owners
by fmr Google Product Leader
www.productschool.com

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5. Product Managers
Vs.
Product Owners

6. Steve Jacobs
Engineer → Product Designer → Founder/CEO → Product Manager → VC Advisor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenkjacobs/

7. Let’s start with some
definitions...

8. What is…
Product Management?
Product Managers (PMs) are responsible for
1. setting a product vision,
2. defining product requirements, and
3. rallying the team towards a product roadmap
that meets company goals, address customer needs, and are
technically viable.

9. But…
It depends on company stage.
🌱 At Seed → lots of project management
🧩 At Series A → reliable, incremental product improvements
🚀 At Series B+ → strategic product roadmaps and test new bets
🥇 At Big Cos → rallying a large cross-functional team

10. What is…
Project Management?
Project Managers (PgMs) are responsible for
1. the process of leading the work of a team,
2. keeping leadership and stakeholders informed,
3. and delivering against all product requirements and
project goals
within the given constraints.

11. PM ← The difference → PgM
Product Manager’s Functions
✅ User & market research
✅ Setting product vision
✅ Communicating vision to stakeholders
✅ Developing product requirements
✅ Creating and maintaining the product roadmap
✅ Rallying the team towards development
Project Manager’s Functions
✅ Breaking down large initiatives into tasks
✅ Planning project timelines
✅ Allocating project resources
✅ Monitoring and tracking task completion
✅ Communicating progress to stakeholders
✅ Ensuring project completion on time and in budget

12. So what is a Product Owner?

13. What is…
A Product Owner?
Product Owners (POs) are a member of a Scrum team
responsible for
1. defining stories,
2. prioritizing the backlog, and
3. helping the team execute
to deliver against the defined product goals.

14. Product Owners ARE the role a PM or PgM
play during Scrum ceremonies.
Product Owners ARE NOT intended to be their
own job title.

15. So who should act as PO in Scrum meetings?
🌱 At Seed → lots of project management → CEO, CTO, PM, whoever you have! (usually too early for PgMs)
🧩 At Series A → reliable, incremental product improvements → PMs (strategic work is minimal)
🚀 At Series B+ → strategic product roadmaps and test new bets → PgMs (The PMs need to focus on strategy)
🥇 At Big Cos → rallying a large cross-functional team → PgMs (The PMs also need to manage stakeholders)

16. Only having POs leaves holes on the team
Product Manager’s Functions
❌ User & market research
❌ Setting product vision
✅ Communicating vision to stakeholders
❌ Developing product requirements
❌ Creating and maintaining the product roadmap
✅ Rallying the team towards development
Project Manager’s Functions
✅ Breaking down large initiatives into tasks
❌ Planning project timelines
❌ Allocating project resources
✅ Monitoring and tracking task completion
✅ Communicating progress to stakeholders
❌ Ensuring project completion on time and in budget

17. Tying it all together...

18. So what does this mean for me?
🌱 Seed stage startup → don’t hire POs, hire PMs or PgMs depending on your needs
🚀 Company that currently has PO as a job title → determine who you want to be PMs & PgMs going forward
󰢨 Applying for a PO job → get clarity on what the responsibilities are and figure out if it’s a PM or PgM role
🦋 Currently are a PO → work with your leadership to transitioning to a PM or PgM role/organization

19. Thank you

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