1. Data Analysis & Extraction
A product manager must explain the product to a variety of people and persuade them to accept it. All internal and external stakeholders, including the product team, developers, and even top management, are included in this. This is where numbers, data, and metrics come into play.
Data competence is a technical talent that every project manager should have. On the other hand, technical PMs require it to back their theories and projections.
Product managers should have the following data skills:
- Identifying data that is both valuable and essential
- Obtaining the necessary information
- Data analysis for possible insights
- Data presentation in an easy-to-understand format
Microsoft SQL is the major data management programme in most software development environments. PMs typically have a rudimentary understanding of SQL and can apply it to a variety of tasks.
2.Data Collection and Management
Data competence is a broad term that encompasses all areas of data management. However, gathering evidence to support product-related arguments can be a talent in and of itself in some circumstances. This is because the audience, the general product market, and customer sentiments are all fluid and ever-changing. Knowing how to obtain data from the correct sources can greatly simplify a product manager’s job.
The following are examples of data collecting and management:
- Defining the parameters for the required data
- On the developer’s end, setting up data management tools
- Creating visual representations from raw data
- Using finished data to create reports and publications
The SQL stated above will assist you in collecting data from multiple sources using pre-defined filters. After that, it’s merely a matter of converting raw data into attractive graphics with tools like Amplitude and Tableau.
3. Coding
A technical product manager does not need to know how to code. This is owing to its incredibly focused nature and the fact that it has nothing to do with management. On the other hand, learning to code can greatly simplify the programming process for product managers, making the lives of product teams much easier. Knowing how to code will also enable managers to interact more effectively with the software engineering staff, as they are conversant in the language.
Understanding coding entails the following:
- Understanding the fundamentals of coding
- It’s technologically advanced.
- The fundamentals of today’s most popular coding technologies
- The importance of several code snippets in the backend design
4. Technical Writing
At every stage of the product lifecycle, the features, specs, and other product data must be documented. This necessitates technical writing expertise and experience. While decent writing abilities are typically sufficient for simple product documentation, keeping a complete written log of the product aids non-technical workers in understanding it.
The goal of technical writing is to break down complex, jargon-heavy product specifics into easy-to-understand concepts that the board of directors or senior management can understand.
This entails the following:
- Creating a document plan
- Getting hold of high-value data
- Converting difficult topics into easy-to-understand English for everyone
- Creating basic layouts for papers
- Visual aids creation
5. Product Marketing
In the classic sense, product marketing only entails selling a product to an audience and expanding the number of users by presenting the product in an appealing light. It involves being able to get everyone, including firm employees, to agree on the product and its viability in the current meaning. This is, without a doubt, the most crucial talent a technical product manager can possess.
The following are some basic marketing concepts to be aware of:
- Putting the product in the best possible market
- Creating a brand (turning the product into an idea everyone can relate to)
- Understanding how to provide the best possible user experience
- Understanding and enhancing product reach