Product management has become the forefront of technological innovation with companies realizing the value of being product centric organizations. Product Managers come with different skills, but one skill in particular has been silently shifting the product management paradigm. This particular skill is being a Technical Product Manager (“TPM”). So what is a TPM?

A TPM brings an element of technical understanding that historically was nested with other roles, such as a Business Systems Analyst or similar. TPM’s are able to dive deeper into the product to be able to speak on the technology stack being used, understand the technological decisions being made, being able to challenge certain technological decisions, and being able to influence those decisions.

Understanding the technical side of a given product allows the TPM to better understand implications of tech debt, maintenance of a given feature, and how to be able to scale a product technically for growth opportunities. Being able to combine this technical understanding along with user and stakeholder feedback when thinking about growing your product allows a TPM to be a true owner, and a well informed manager of their product offering.

There are multiple facets to a TPM such as being able to understand certain development practices such as being able to write/understand API’s and schemas, helping to write test cases such as Gherkin, and so much more. These skills develop over time and there is no fast approach at becoming a good TPM. Master your craft, obtain mentors along your journey, and grow in your field through practice. Don’t lose sight of your product partners in user research and technology, stay user centric, focus on product strategy and value, etc., but use the technical skill as part of your decision tree to help grow your product with a higher ROI with the features you deliver to the market!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is product management crucial for technological innovation?

Product management is crucial for technological innovation because companies are recognizing the value of being product-centric organizations, which drives innovation and growth.

What unique skill set do Technical Product Managers (TPMs) bring?

TPMs bring a unique skill set that includes deep technical understanding, enabling them to influence technological decisions and challenge existing choices, reshaping the product management paradigm.

How do TPMs leverage their technical understanding in product management?

TPMs leverage their technical understanding to grasp implications of tech debt, maintain features, and scale products for growth, making them well-informed managers of their product offerings.

What is the importance of combining technical understanding with user and stakeholder feedback for TPMs?

Combining technical understanding with user and stakeholder feedback makes TPMs true owners of their product offerings, enabling them to drive higher ROI and make informed decisions.

What skills do TPMs need to develop and master?

TPMs need to understand various development practices, write/understand APIs and schemas, and contribute to writing test cases like Gherkin. Developing TPM skills takes time, requires mastering the craft, seeking mentors, and continuous practice.

How can TPMs maintain focus on user research, technology, product strategy, and value?

TPMs can maintain focus on user research, technology, product strategy, and value by leveraging their technical skills to drive higher ROI, collaborating with product partners, and prioritizing staying user-centric.