Product Manager: who it is and why many projects need it badly
Queries like “what is a product manager”, “product manager responsibilities”, or “do I need a PM” often appear when a team is building, but the product doesn’t converge: many features, little business outcome, unclear priorities.
Short version: a product manager owns value and priorities. They make sure engineering produces business outcomes, not just tasks.
1) What a product manager actually does (deliverables)
Product work includes:
- goals and success metrics
- prioritization (what to build first and why)
- problem framing (user pain, value proposition)
- hypotheses and experiments
- roadmap (MVP -> iterations)
- stakeholder alignment
Typical artifacts:
- PRD (or a lightweight version)
- backlog with user stories
- acceptance criteria for key flows
- measurement plan (analytics events)
2) What a product manager is NOT
Product Manager != Project Manager.
- Project management focuses on execution: timelines, coordination, process.
- Product management focuses on “what and why”: value and outcomes.
In small teams one person can do both, but the functions differ.
3) Why projects burn budget without product ownership
Without product ownership you get:
- scope creep (“build everything”)
- no metrics (can’t tell what works)
- chaotic changes (lots of work, low outcome)
- priority conflicts (team slows down)
4) When you need a product manager urgently (and when you can survive without one)
You urgently need product management if:
- the product hypothesis is not proven
- many stakeholders pull in different directions
- growth/monetization/funnels matter
- decisions must be made fast and often
You can survive without a dedicated PM temporarily if:
- requirements are stable and small
- you have a strong product owner on the client side
Even then you still need goals, priorities, metrics, and out-of-scope.
5) Minimal PM setup for an MVP (if you don’t have a PM)
- 1-page context: audience, problem, value
- 5-10 main user stories
- acceptance criteria for key flows
- metric list (conversion, retention, revenue)
- prioritization rule (impact/effort)
FAQ
Can you build a product without a PM?
Yes, but you often pay in rework and timeline drift.
Do I need PM for outsourced development?
Yes, if you want to control value and scope, not only “request features”.
Should PM be on the client side or vendor side?
Ideally client-side. In practice vendors often help establish product structure and requirements.
If you want, we can review your stage and decide whether you need a PM now — and how to run discovery/prioritization without bureaucracy.