Course description

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to product management, blending traditional principles with cutting-edge GenAI techniques. Through hands-on, team-based projects, students will gain practical experience in essential areas like user research, product strategy, and data-driven decision-making. The curriculum provides instruction through lecture slides and in-class activities, practice through interview preparation and homework, and assessment through project assignments and presentations. Students will learn how to leverage GenAI to enhance various stages of product development, preparing them to tackle real-world product management challenges and drive product success.

What students will learn

• Core Product Management principles, including defining product vision and strategy, conducting user research to understand user needs and create personas, developing comprehensive product requirements, and applying design thinking and agile methodologies to build successful products. Students will also learn to make data-driven decisions using key metrics to optimize product performance.
• Strategic application of generative AI, identifying opportunities to leverage AI tools throughout the product development process, from generating ideas and designs to enhancing productivity and testing. Students will also learn to critically evaluate AI outputs and mitigate common risks.
• Effective communication and collaboration, developing strong skills to work with cross-functional teams, craft persuasive product pitches to stakeholders, and prepare for product management interviews by articulating vision and skills.

Units

The total course is designed for a 15-week semester. Materials may be adapted to other schedules.

Unit 1: Foundations of Product Management

This unit introduces the world of product management, equipping learners with the skills to take a product from idea to reality. Students explore the different responsibilities of a product manager, from understanding user needs to collaborating with cross-functional teams. The content emphasizes communication as a key skill, explores generative AI and its potential applications and limitations in product management, and shares strategies for crafting a product vision statement. 

• Module 1: Welcome!
• Module 2: All About Product Managers
• Module 3: Better Communication, Better Products
• Module 4: Product Vision from Idea to Impact
• Module 5: Intro to Generative AI

Unit 2: Get to Know Your Users

In this unit, students continue their exploration of product management, which helps them lay the groundwork for a successful product by understanding target audience and market. Students delve into user research methods, such as interviews and surveys, to discover user needs and build personas. They also focus on translating user needs into a product requirements document (PRD), which outlines product features and functionalities. The importance of building inclusive products and launching strategically with a minimum viable product are also explained.

• Module 1: User-Centric Product Design
• Module 2: Create Products People Love
• Module 3: Inclusive Design: Build for All

Unit 3: Market-Driven Product Design

This unit emphasizes validating a product concept through research and the total addressable market (TAM). Students learn how to analyze competitors in order to refine product positioning and identify opportunities to stand out in the competitive landscape. Market analysis and business models are covered to help students understand the market landscape and how their products will generate revenue. Design sprints and storyboarding help students validate ideas quickly through prototypes. Finally, students are introduced to wireframing for creating visual blueprints of a product and communicating its structure to stakeholders before development begins. 

• Module 1: Total Addressable Market and Product Potential
• Module 2: Decode the Competitive Landscape
• Module 3: Business Models from Idea to Revenue
• Module 4: Rapid Prototyping with Design Sprints
• Module 5: Innovate and Deliver

Unit 4: The Art of Persuasion

This unit helps students polish their skills for the big product pitch! A guest speaker shares pitching secrets, and student work groups craft a compelling deck that highlights their product's value. Then, they refine the pitch by analyzing successful examples and getting feedback from instructors. The unit culminates in presenting product ideas to the class, just as groups would to business investors.

• Module 1: The Power of the Pitch
• Module 2: Elevate Your Pitch
• Module 3: Pitch Day

Unit 5: Develop and Launch Your Product

In this unit, students refine their product for launch. They craft a product strategy with SMART goals and objectives and key results to achieve their vision. Continued understanding of product requirements documents helps ensure effective documentation and prioritization. The process for launching new features is covered – in particular, beginning with a basic version, then adding features that users will enjoy. Throughout the unit, learners are also given the opportunity to further refine their PRDs.

• Module 1: Product Strategy Sets a Course for Growth
• Module 2: Advanced PRD Techniques
• Module 3: Launch Features that Matter
• Module 4: Key Metrics Drive Product Growth
• Module 5: Create AI-Powered Products

Unit 6: Product Showcase and Wrap-Up

In this unit, students present their final projects in two dedicated class sessions, demonstrating their ability to apply product management principles to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. The course will wrap up with a comprehensive review of key concepts, providing students with an opportunity to reflect on their learning journey and discuss potential career paths in product management.

• Module 1: Final Presentations
• Module 2: Final Presentations (continued)
• Module 3: Course Closing: Your Product Management Journey

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