10+ Product Management Frameworks To Become A Better PM

Understanding Product Management Frameworks

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Commonly Used Frameworks

1. Lean Startup

• What it is: The Lean Startup methodology, popularized by Eric Ries, emphasizes building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), learning from user feedback, and iterating.
• When to use it: Use it when you're launching a new product or startup and want to validate your ideas quickly and efficiently.
• Example: Airbnb started with an MVP that consisted of renting out air mattresses in their apartment. They learned from early users and iterated to become a global platform.

2. Kanban

• What it is: Kanban is an Agile framework that visualizes work and workflow using boards and cards, enabling teams to optimize processes and enhance collaboration.
• When to use it: Use it for project management, software development, or any process where visualizing and managing work in progress is critical.
• Example: A software development team uses a Kanban board to track tasks. Each card represents a task, and the team moves cards from "To Do" to "In Progress" to "Done" as work progresses.

3. Design Thinking

• What it is: Design Thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving, emphasizing empathy, ideation, and prototyping to understand and address user needs.
• When to use it: Use it when you need to innovate, solve complex problems, or create products or services with a strong focus on user experience.
• Example: Apple's approach to designing the iPhone involved understanding user pain points and designing a device that combined a phone, music player, and internet browser.

4. Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD)

• What it is: JTBD is a framework that focuses on understanding the underlying motivations behind why customers "hire" a product or service to get a specific job done.
• When to use it: Use it when you want to identify and address the unmet needs and motivations of your target audience.
• Example: When Apple introduced the iPod, it addressed the job of convenient and portable music listening, effectively disrupting the Walkman market.

5. Agile (Scrum and Kanban)

• What it is: Agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban promote iterative development, collaboration, and flexibility in project management and software development.
• When to use it: Use Agile when working on projects with evolving requirements and a need for frequent adaptation.
• Example: Spotify adopted Agile practices to enhance its music streaming service, allowing for rapid feature updates and a better user experience.

6. Pirate Metrics (AARRR)

• What it is: Pirate Metrics breaks down the customer journey into Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Revenue, and Referral stages, helping businesses optimize each stage for growth.
• When to use it: Use it when analyzing and improving user acquisition and conversion in digital products and services.
• Example: Dropbox employed AARRR metrics to incentivize users to refer friends and colleagues, resulting in substantial user growth through referrals.

AltUni's Unique Approach

Exploring Additional Frameworks

7. The Kano Model

• What it is: The Kano Model categorizes product features into basic needs, performance needs, and delighters, helping prioritize feature development.
• When to use it: Use it when deciding which features to include in a product to ensure it meets customer expectations.
• Example: In the automobile industry, heated seats were once a delighter but are now considered a performance need. Customers expect this feature in premium cars.

8. The Product Canvas

• What it is: The Product Canvas is a visual tool that outlines key components of a product, including customer segments, value propositions, and channels.
• When to use it: Use it during the product development process to clarify and communicate your product's core elements.
• Example: Airbnb's product canvas helped them focus on their core offering: unique stays.

9. RICE Scoring

• What it is: RICE Scoring is a quantitative framework for prioritizing feature development based on Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort.
• When to use it: Use it when deciding which features to focus on first, considering factors like potential user reach and development effort.
• Example: Intercom uses RICE scoring for data-driven feature prioritization.

10. SWOT Analysis

• What it is: SWOT Analysis evaluates an organization's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to assess its competitive position.
• When to use it: Use it for strategic planning, market analysis, and understanding your organization's internal and external factors.
• Example: Tesla's SWOT analysis helped them identify market opportunities and threats.

11. The Innovator's Dilemma

• What it is: The Innovator's Dilemma, based on Clayton Christensen's theory, explores how disruptive innovations can disrupt established markets.
• When to use it: Use it when your industry faces disruptive changes, and you need to adapt to evolving market dynamics.
• Example: Netflix disrupted traditional TV by embracing streaming technology.

12. The Lean Canvas

• What it is: The Lean Canvas is a concise one-page business plan that focuses on key elements like customer segments, problems, solutions, and channels.
• When to use it: Use it when developing a startup or new product idea to quickly capture and iterate on your business model.
• Example: Buffer used Lean Canvas to launch its social media management tool.

13. The 4P's Marketing Mix

• What it is: The 4P's Marketing Mix is a foundational marketing framework that covers Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.
• When to use it: Use it when designing marketing strategies and managing the marketing aspects of a product or service.
• Example: Coca-Cola's marketing mix shaped its iconic brand image.

The Bottom Line: