Product Management: It’s more than just MRDs and PRDs

Every successful product should have a Marketing Requirements Document (MRD)and a Product Requirements Document (PRD) that together define the overall purpose, scope and goals for the product and its stakeholders – the firm, its end customers and its shareholders.

Product Management: Achilles’ heel  

Very few companies, champion internal processes or a work culture where product management is given the importance it deserves. Product Management often gains prominence when the product has been commoditized or when the industry is maturing (decline). The exception to the rule are medical device and biotechnology firms where regulatory requirements demand thorough book keeping.

In some firms a member of the marketing or engineering team helms the role of Product Management; such a role is replete with managerial hubris.

A good Product Management practice necessitates that the function of Marketing, Product Management, Engineering, Finance and Operations be distinct and separate, to avoid conflicts of interest and managerial bias (Group-Think, Self-Selection, Sunk-Costs, Representativeness, Availability, Risk-averse, Risk-seeking).

Marketing Requirements Document (MRD)

In my view the marketing team, in cohorts with strategic planning, defines the overall skeleton for the MRD (Marketing Requirements Document). In some firms this role is delegated to the office of New Product Planning and Innovation.

A good MRD is one that encompasses a well-defined market (market segments), outlines the revenue and profitability goals and defines the Go-To market strategy to make the product successful.

Product Managers should never own or be tasked with defining the MRD for two reasons.

  1. First, an inherent conflict of interest and self-selection bias will drive most PM’s into solidifying their role in the company.
  2. Second, the sole purpose of a MRD is to enact a system of checks and balances to review the overall performance, profitability and viability for the product or business.

Product Requirements Document (PRD)

A Product Manager uses the MRD as a blueprint to conceive the mind, body and soul for the Product.

PRD: Where do I start?

It is my firm belief that a PRD should be customer centric and not engineering driven.

If the product in question is backed by a revolutionary new idea, then ethnographic studies and focus groups are vital in shaping the PRD.

If the nature of the innovation is incremental then a treasure pile of correspondence between and among market participants (internal and external) is where you should start. If possible, immerse yourself into learning about the customer by joining the sales and marketing team on field visits.

A new product must justify its place in the marketplace. A comprehensive market review and competitive analysis that includes features, price, channels and promotion must be undertaken. In fact, I recommend every Product Manager to do this when he or she assumes a new position.

The use of multidimensional scaling and conjoint analysis are indispensable tools both when conceiving new offerings or streamlining existing products.

Functional Performance, Acquisition Cost, Ease-of-Use, Operating Cost, Reliability, Serviceability and Compatibility should dictate technology choices and the overall scope, form and shape of the product.

Recognizing your Stakeholders

Any successful product requires teamwork and the ability to bring together people towards a common goal. Inherent in any organization are power dynamics that come into play that need to be handled with tact and diplomacy.

A Product Manager will face various stakeholders, with conflicting goals, as the product moves from conception to commercialization.

  1. The finance team which green lights the project, approves development costs, allocates resources and evaluates profitability goals (upon release).
  2. The R&D, engineering and supply chain teams that work diligently to bring the product to life.
  3. The legal department in drafting-reviewing contracts and licensing terms with partners, vendors and suppliers.
  4. The regulatory and certification bodies who confer product safety and grant market approval prior to launch.
  5. The marketing, sales and support team who will promote, deliver and support the product as it gets adopted by customers.
  6. The corporate and strategic planning team who evaluate business performance and manage shareholder value.

Product Manager: A Lone Ranger

A PM is akin to a lone ranger fighting for the glory of his (her) product.

The ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the PRD and MRD converge; deliver value to the firm and its investors falls on the Product Manager.

The traits that I personally advocate a great Product Manager to possess are empathy, curiosity, humility, attention to detail, entrepreneurial, embrace uncertainty, foresighted and data driven.

Keep the Innovation Running, it’s the lifeblood that fuels humanity.

Ideal Product Features: Emotional or Rational ?

From my observations and analysis I have found that any decision by a buyer (consumer) to buy a product or service is based upon either of the two choices:

1. A Rational process of elimination:

Where in the buyer will compare products based on price, features, benefits…. and then make a decision on whether to buy the product or the service. Bottom line is it is harder to sell when there is intense competition as products have to meet or beat the nearest rival on a lot of fronts.

2. An Emotional appeal.

When a product or service strikes an emotional appeal with a buyer, be it because of the look & feel, appearance, brand name, or pride of ownership, the products are easy to sell . However it is also much more difficult to create an emotional connection with the buyer. Quite often products in this category sell even though they may lack the features or benefits that other rivals can offer.

ConsumerDecision-RationalvsEmotional-2

Applying this concept, we can evaluate various products available today in the marketplace in terms of their appeal (Rational or Emotional) to prospective buyers.

An example of an exercise with different products picked at will shows the following attributes as judged by me. The same may yield different results depending on the perceived benefits by others.

Product Attributes
(Emotional / Rational )
Volvo iPhone Tiffany’s Safeway Bread
Brand
Elusiveness × × ×
Safety × ×
Luxury / High End ×
Pride of Ownership ×
Social Group / Class
Pricing × × ×
Features × × ×
Availability
Service & Support ×
Ease of Use × × ×
Warranty × ×
Quality
Reliability × ×
Reputation
Cost of Ownership × ×

What then is an “IDEAL PRODUCT” that can appeal to both categories of buyers ?

An “IDEAL PRODUCT” has features that strike a balance by appealing to both the emotional and rational minded buyers.

IdealProduct

This may help explain why products such as an iPhone, or a BMW command such a premium and enjoy a loyal customer base even though the competition (Nokia N95, Audi/Lexus) can offer much more for the same or better price.