Am I a Good Product Owner? Reflections and Insights into Agile Product Management
This article has been on my “To-Do” list for quite some time. Actually, the questions it addresses regularly cross my mind when I implement SEM
Am I a Product Owner? Am I qualified enough? Am I a truly good Product Owner?
Given that I’m perhaps one of the very few certified Agile trainers in our community who has actual product management experience in leading technology companies, I probably should feel more confident offering training sessions on Product Management and Product Ownership. Many colleagues have asked me when I plan to launch such public courses. However, I hesitated for a long time, wondering if my experience was genuinely representative enough to benefit others. Recently though, numerous students reached out directly, encouraging me to deliver this training—after all, I happen to be the only officially qualified trainer in China. So, here I am, finally deciding to step forward.
Over the past decade, as China’s internet economy skyrocketed, the role of Product Manager (synonymous with Product Owner, or PO) became a trendy, sought-after position. Yet, recently, with the internet economy stabilizing, the job market is cooling down, and the once highly popular role no longer seems as glamorous. Does this mean we no longer need Product Managers? Certainly not. Instead, what we’ve stopped needing are mere “requirement conveyors”—those who simply transfer offline demands online. Today, we need Product Managers who can explore deeper questions, products that reflect humanity’s broader ambitions, such as journeys to Mars or extending human lifespans.
How I Define the Role of a Product Owner (Product Manager):
- Maximizing Product Value:
This might sound abstract, but it essentially means creating products that genuinely satisfy users, enhancing their satisfaction, and thus attracting more customers. To simplify further, it’s about crafting products people willingly pay for—not because they’re forced to, but because your product truly delivers value (details best discussed offline!). - Effective Requirement Management:
Managing requirements goes beyond translating user needs into technical jargon. It requires thoroughly understanding user priorities through deep engagement, clearly breaking down these priorities, and helping your team remain laser-focused on tasks of the highest value. - Delivery and Feedback Loop:
The real mark of a mature Product Manager comes from their ability to handle the interaction loop effectively—engaging users post-delivery, gathering insightful feedback, and collaborating closely with the development team to iterate and improve continuously.
While this might sound straightforward, becoming a skilled Product Owner involves mastering multiple dimensions, including:
- Defining Product Vision and Goals
- Conducting Feasibility Analysis
- Calculating ROI
- Applying Evidence-Based Management (EBM)
- Cultivating Experimental Thinking
- Prioritizing Requirements Effectively
- Communication Skills
- Planning and Estimation
- Thinking and Acting Like a CEO
With all these in mind, I’m thrilled to officially introduce the Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO) training to Mainland China for the first time. The PSPO course enjoys significant popularity internationally, comparable to Scrum Master courses. Combining my 15+ years of product management experience at top-tier Chinese tech firms with the structured curriculum of PSPO, I’m confident you’ll find this training uniquely valuable.
Special Benefits of This First-Ever PO Training in SEM:
In addition to comprehensive training and insights, participants will receive:
- Lifetime mentorship from China’s first PST (Professional Scrum Trainer) with an extensive Product Director background.
- 50% discount eligibility for the advanced PSPO (PSPO-Advanced) course.
- Exclusive insights into “How to Interview Product Managers” from a former Product Director at a top tech company.
- An essential Product Management skills toolkit.
I look forward to embarking on this exciting Product Ownership journey with you, enabling your teams and your careers to thrive in the Agile age by implementing SEM!