Develops new software product concepts, designs, and/or enhancements to existing product design that reflect market and user requirements.
Conducts research and develops a good understanding of the customer's needs, new technologies, trends in the market, and competitors. Develops requirements documents, functional specifications, and mock-ups to clearly illustrate product ideas and concepts. Participates in all phases of the product development lifecycle, including analysis, design, testing, and integration of products as well as the introduction of products to the market. Member of a cross-functional team that translates customer needs and technology directions into product definitions. May participate in the creation of documentation or user guides for new products.
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Product Manager I skill and competencie below to view definitions.
Skill definition-Designing, implementing, and managing software product lifecycle from inception to delivery to maximize revenue and meet user experience.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the main function of product management in software development.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Gathers software requirements and feedback from customers to identify product functionality and needs.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Participates in iteration planning sessions to discuss the pros and cons of software product management.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Recommends product customizations and improvement based on product feature requests to meet end-users’ needs.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Improves software product development processes to manage costs and allocation to features and functionality.
Skill definition-Knowledge of software product market and ability to identify and incorporate the market trends and user requirement for the design and development of software product.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the differences between software products, software projects, and software services.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Suggests product ideas based on market and competitor research during the ideation phase.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Recognizes issues in software products and partners with relevant teams to amend identified problems.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees system, functional, and user acceptance testing to ensure software performance is in line with specifications.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Forecasts end users' changing requirements to adjust existing software services and product objectives.
Skill definition-Analyzing an organization's structure, process, technology, and capabilities to determine information systems changes needed for achieving organizational goals.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the essential functions and features of business analytics tools.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Informs the management of the issues and problems affecting our current business operations.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Utilizes industry-specific tools to perform various types of business analyses.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Monitors the effectiveness of business analysis to ensure the technical feasibility of deliverables.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Keeps abreast of the latest IT advancements to modernize current business operations.
Skill definition-Gathering information about a business's potential customers to determine the feasibility of a new product or service.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Documents most used marketing research methodologies and strategies.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Helps in translating market research findings into strategic decisions.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Interprets market research data to make actionable recommendations to senior executives.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Guides the team in reviewing changes to the marketplace and adjusts our marketing plans accordingly.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Constructs qualitative and quantitative market research plans for products in all stages of the development life cycle.
Skill definition-Insight into our organization's business, goals, and values. Ability to design and implement initiatives that facilitate successful outcomes.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains our key business strategies and priorities.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Reports and communicates market and competitor status regularly to the management team.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Evaluates supply chain efficiency with an eye toward improving shortcomings.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Leverages the latest technologies and tools that enhance business analytics.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Designs and implements feedback loops to identify and promptly address business problems.
Skill definition-Analyzing hypothetical situations or abstract concepts to compile business insights.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the rationale for adapting processes from one department to another.
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Identifies gaps in information and similarities between current and past situations.
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Discovers leading companies' innovating work processes in the field.
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Establishes consistent standards for the conceptual thinking process.
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Keeps abreast of conceptual thinking skills relating to collaboration.
There are 9 hard skills for Product Manager I, Software Product Management, Software Product Business Knowledge, Software Product Technical Knowledge, etc.
4 general skills for Product Manager I, Business Analysis, Market Research, Product Development, etc.
10 soft skills for Product Manager I, Business Acumen, Conceptual Thinking, Analytical Thinking, etc.
While the list totals 23 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Product Manager I, he or she needs to be proficient in Business Acumen, be proficient in Conceptual Thinking, and be proficient in Analytical Thinking.
