The Success Behind Scale: The Product Owner vs Product Manager

As a startup, the Product Manager role is key to success.

But what if the company grows? What if those initial core values under a specific set of circumstances need to change?

This is where there is a divide in the decision-making and success of the scaled product. The Product Owner vs Product Manager.

Depending on the size of your organization and the specific needs of your team and your product, either one can be the most effective.

So, what’s the difference, and when does it matter? Let’s take a look.

The Key Differences: Product Owner VS Product Manager

The product owner and product manager perform two distinct roles in the product development process. It’s like a game of tug-of-war where both have different ideas of what the final product should be.

Think of the product owner as the father and the product manager as the mother. They each have their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses that cause disagreements on the best practice for product delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

Product owners are responsible for envisioning the product, setting objectives, and prioritizing work. They are also responsible for determining user requirements and coordinating the design, development, and testing of the product.

Product managers are responsible for developing the product roadmap and delivering the product to market. They strategize the launch and manage the product on an ongoing basis.

They act as a link between product owners, stakeholders, and the development teams to ensure that product management meets the customer’s needs and brings a positive return on investment. Read this article linked here to understand the roles and collaborate to bridge strategy and execution.

Salary

The success behind the scale of the product owner vs product manager largely depends on the salary they receive. Product Owners often require an industry-competitive salary and incentive compensation, while product managers are usually more interested in salary with potential stock option perks.

Product owners will likely drive hard bargains on their salary if they believe they can demonstrate substantial value to a company. Product managers should try to negotiate a salary based on the size and scope of their job within the organization. The successful scale is dependent on many factors, but ultimately Salary is an important factor in determining the success and longevity of a PM/PO relationship.

Career Path

The success of any product rests on the shoulders of its owner and manager. On one side stands the product owner, who is typically focused on the overall business objectives and making sure the product aligns with organizational goals. On the other side stands the product manager, who is primarily concerned with the product’s roadmap and execution.

When it comes to career paths, the role of a product owner is seen as more of a long-term goal, and the product manager is more of an entry-level role. The product manager is the front line for decision-making, implementing new features, setting goals, and supporting the launch of the new product.

Start Thinking Of Your Product Today And Reach Success

The differences between a Product Owner vs Product Manager need to be understood, explored, and scaled to ensure success. Their roles are made for each other and need to go hand-in-hand in order to achieve the desired results. While the Product Owner is responsible for the roadmap and vision, the Product Manager sets the boundary and manages day-to-day operations. To learn more, don’t hesitate to reach out to experts!

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