HIgh Technology

Product manager at any firm? Google fridays?

Product Management (same thing as brand management?), was my guess also...but wasn't sure. What's the path to get there?

Well you first need to enter at a lower level, then you'll be promoted as manager. I know a guy he was in charge of designing a new ash tray for a major aircraft manufacturer, it was somehow his baby

ethical considerations.

In most tech companies, this is handled by product management, aka product marketing.

Tech companies have product managers who define the product, features , identify competition and influence the desig, Passionate product managers are loved and wanted in such companies. Product managers who love the 'baby' can make great products.

Usually product managers and head designers and other similar managers report to a Program manager whose responsibility is profitability of the companies. So if product manager gets too passionate for eg: asks for too many features.. the Program manager has the final say to ensure profitability of the company.

Haha, to each his own I guess.

Product management for sure. However, it's not completely similar to a film director's role. In movies, the director pretty much calls the shots -everyone accepts and heads in the director's direction. Product management in a technology (product) company is not such an independent role. Many others (designers, programmers, analysts) have a lot of say in the product. Also, what a product manager evangelizes may not always materialize into a product feature simply because the engineering team will have no way of getting that product/feature done.

Sounds like the job you're looking for is Chairman, President, and CEO of the company you 100% own.

I think you really need to think about your expectations. First off I would disagree with your characterization of film direction that nobody else has a say in the product. Producers and studios can influence decisions, especially by controlling what they will pay for, and even some actors/actresses have a say in how certain characters develop and are portrayed. And of course directors' artistic visions are always constrained by what the various FX people can actually do.

In the business world what you describe is basically product management. However, there are always going to be people who disagree with what you say - and unless you're the founder sometimes those people are going to be your boss. And no matter how good your idea is, if engineering/production cannot make what you want then it's not getting made (I'm sure any car company would love to sell a car that accelerates like a Porche but gets 500 miles to the gallon, but it's not technologically feasible).

Bottom line: everyone, or at least people who are most successful, have the skills to persuade others and build consensus. Once you have a strong track record of success (see: Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett), you will face less questioning of your ideas. But until you reach that point in your career, you'd better get used to having others question and challenge you. Or just start your own company.

That said, what's the traditional career-path to Product Management?
How about non-traditional paths?
Thanks.

People with undergrad business degrees can get jobs as analysts supporting product management teams. The product managers themselves are generally MBAs, usually with a few years of either industry or relevant experience (such as consulting) before school.

I am staring at the distinct possibility that I will not be getting into MBA program this year. So I am wondering is it possible to shift to product management without a MBA degree,if I have strong experience within the same industry ?

Having worked in Telecom industry for 5 years, I want to shift to product management in the same industry. Are there any online courses I could take to bolster my chances at product management ?

The product managers at our company have a good number of years in development and have shown a good client relation skills.

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