The Product Manager's Desk Reference, Third Edition, 3rd Edition

INTRODUCTION

THE ACCIDENTAL PROFESSION

Over the course of 20 years, I’ve facilitated product management workshops all over the world to tens of thousands of people at hundreds of companies. At the start of every session, I ask participants about their background, education, and experience, and what they want to learn about. What I’ve observed over the years, and continue to see, is that product managers come from all over the organization. They emerge from development, marketing, operations, and more. They have degrees in science, psychology, and business. A few rocket scientists and particle physicists and some PhDs in mathematics have attended as well. No one ever said they had a degree in product management! When I ask how they got into product ...