While the goals and methods of project management and product management may overlap sometimes, they are distinct disciplines. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between these two indispensable functions of a company.
Project Management
We have talked at length about project management in previous posts. However, a quick refresh is in order.
Project management is the application of tools, skills, and activities to ensure that a project is brought to completion within a certain timeframe and meeting certain requirements.
Some common project management tools and methodologies include:
Product Management
At its core, product management is the process of planning, creating, and launching a product.
A product manager identifies consumer needs as well as business goals, and determines what success means for a given product.
Product managers create this vision and make sure that their team adheres to it throughout the production process.
Below is a non-comprehensive list of the most common product management tools:
- Roadmapping software
- Team messaging tools
- Project management tools
- Heatmap tools (for websites)
Project Management vs Product Management: What Is the Difference?
As you can see, there is some overlap between the interests and goals of project managers and product managers, as evidenced by the fact that product managers frequently use project management tools.
In fact, project managers and product managers often work together. However, their goals and tasks differ in some important ways.
While product managers are focused on creating a vision that is both compelling to customers and financially sound, project managers are tasked with bringing this vision to life on time and within budget.
Think of it this way: while product managers take care of strategy, project managers are in charge of execution.
In sum, while there are important differences between product and project management, both functions are complementary and equally important to the success of an organization.
Learn More About Project Management
Engineering design is a discipline full of interesting stories and bits of information. Below are some previous posts you can read to learn more about this fascinating topic.
- Scrum: What you need to know
- Is project management a good career?
- What is a kaizen event?
- What is the engineering design process?
Darnell Technical Services is an engineering design firm with extensive experience in a vast array of projects. Our headquarters are located in Santa Ana, California, and we have an office in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Contact us today by telephone (714-285-0082 (CA), 702-945-2899 (NV)) or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about all the technical instruments and materials we put at your disposal.
