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Ask HN: Taking on Some Product Manager Responsibilities: Book Recommendations?
I work at 12 person startup which has both a hardware and a software component to our product.
I am a front end developer here (the only one and the only designer although I am not much of a designer) and have designed our website up to this point but the decisions about what to build have mostly come down from above.
I was recently offered to become head of software product and take more of an active role in user research and product roadmapping. I was wondering if HN had any recommendations for books that would help me transition into a PM role.
So basically what are some good books that will help me think like a more of a product manager?
- PaulHoule 11y agoGet these two http://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Development-Taming-Software-Schedules/dp/1556159005 http://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Development-Taming-Software-Sche... and http://www.amazon.com/Software-Estimation-Demystifying-Developer-Practices/dp/0735605351 http://www.amazon.com/Software-Estimation-Demystifying-Devel... If you want to get deeper into project management I suggest that you become a member of the PMI and possibly get certification from them. The training and testing are rigorous and it is a certification that means something both from the knowledge you get and the benefit of having it on your resume.
- narrowrail 11y agoThe OP discusses Product Management, which usually falls in the Marketing Dept. (at most corporations I've been and heard of), while you are suggesting project management and engineering management books. I'm not sure that makes sense; and, being at a startup I'm not sure certification of any kind would be worth the time.
- seekingcharlie 11y agoThis is a great guide: http://www.khoslaventures.com/wp-content/uploads/Good_Product_Manager_Bad_Product_Manager_KV.pdf http://www.khoslaventures.com/wp-content/uploads/Good_Produc...
- anm89 11y agoI had seen this a while back, probably on here, but it is exactly the kind of thing I am looking for and will definitely read it over a couple more times.
- seekingcharlie 11y agoYep! I've followed a similar path to you (designer transitioned to PM) and I return to this doc at least once a month as a refresher.
- rahimnathwani 11y agoOverview of being a PM: - Inspired - The Product Manager's Desk Reference - The Lean Startup - Agile Product Management with Scrum Targeted at interview preparation, but good for breadth: - Decode & Conquer - Cracking the PM interview Other good books for PMs: - Talking to Humans - Hooked - The Design of Everyday Things - Zero to One - Traction
- edimaudo 11y agoA better option might be to talk to product managers in your area in person.
- paulcole 11y agoI just finished YOUR STARTUP IS BROKEN: INSIDE THE TOXIC HEART OF TECH CULTURE and found the section on management very eye-opening and full of practical advice. Highly recommended, although not project management specific. http://model-view-culture.myshopify.com/products/your-startup-is-broken http://model-view-culture.myshopify.com/products/your-startu...
- diggum 11y agoThere's a great Slack resource available for PM's I'd recommend joining for contacts and advice: productmanagerhq.slack.com