Cosa fa un Product Manager in Bending Spoons?

Summary

In this engaging episode of the Product Heroes podcast, hosts Marco Imperato and Lorenzo Piovani, along with Chiara Vivaldi, delve into the world of product management at Bennyspoons, a leading Italian digital product company. They discuss the company's unique strategy of acquiring products with untapped potential, the importance of user autonomy, data analysis, and feedback in product improvement. The conversation highlights the balance between taking risks and maintaining product integrity, offering valuable insights for product managers looking to drive growth and make an impact.

Takeaways

• 😀 The importance of having a broad perspective and not limiting oneself to a single opportunity is emphasized in product management.
• 🤔 The value of estimating the value of each opportunity and creating a strategy to prioritize and decide on the next steps is highlighted.
• 🛠️ The discussion of the organizational structure at Benny Spoons, including centralized and federated teams, and the autonomy given to individual product teams to define their own strategies.
• 🔍 The significance of user behavior study through data and user research for improving product strategy and decision-making is underscored.
• 💡 The insight that sometimes removing features can create more value by simplifying the product and focusing on what's truly important to users.
• 🚀 The encouragement for product managers to be bold and take risks, balancing potential growth with the risks involved, is a key theme.
• 🧩 The challenge of managing a product portfolio with diverse products and the approach to integration and sharing of best practices across teams.
• 👥 The unique background of product managers at Benny Spoons, often coming from STEM or business fields, and the value placed on talent and problem-solving abilities over specific experience.
• 📈 The focus on key metrics that are crucial for each product, which can change based on the product's objectives and the stage of the product lifecycle.
• 🛑 The difficulty of removing features from a product due to risk aversion and the emotional attachment to those features, despite the potential benefits of simplification.
• 🔑 The role of autonomy in product teams at Benny Spoons, allowing for diverse approaches to product strategy and the ability to innovate without excessive bureaucracy.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the podcast 'Product Heroes'?

The podcast 'Product Heroes' is a reference point in Italy for product management. It helps people through masters, in-company training, guides, articles, and interviews with product leaders to improve the way they build, launch, and move the metrics of their products.

Who are Chiara Vivaldi and Lorenzo Piovani, and what are their roles in their respective teams?

Chiara Vivaldi and Lorenzo Piovani are young product managers at Bennys, a leading company in digital products in Italy and a key partner of the Productivos conference 2024. Chiara works on the Meetup team, a platform for events and communities, while Lorenzo specializes in Remini, an AI-based photo editing application.

What is the strategy behind Bennys' approach to product development?

Bennys' strategy primarily involves acquiring products that have already found a product-market fit but have untapped potential. They often rethink and sometimes rewrite these products from scratch to improve various aspects such as user experience, monetization, and marketing.

How does Bennys organize its product teams?

Bennys typically has product teams that focus on a single product or a suite of products. Larger products have dedicated teams, while smaller ones may be managed by the same team. There are also horizontal teams that support product teams in activities across the company, such as Legal, Talent, People, and Developer Experience.

What is the importance of user behavior study in product development according to the podcast?

Studying user behavior is fundamental in product development as it helps define a product strategy that makes sense. It is essential for understanding who the users are, what they do with the product, and what other products they use, which in turn helps deduce what might appeal to them.

How does the podcast discuss the importance of being bold in product management?

The podcast emphasizes the importance of being bold and courageous in making decisions, even if they are risky, without compromising the product itself. It suggests that taking calculated risks can lead to significant growth opportunities.

What is the significance of the 'Product Heroes conference 2024' mentioned in the podcast?

The 'Product Heroes conference 2024' is an annual event where product professionals in Italy gather. It has become one of the largest product conferences in Europe, expecting between 1000 and 1200 attendees, with speakers from companies like Google, WhatsApp, and Microsoft.

How does the podcast address the challenge of prioritizing among numerous product ideas?

The podcast suggests creating a backlog of ideas from various opportunities and then estimating the value of each opportunity. It recommends prioritizing and deciding where to start based on the expected impact and complexity of the ideas.

What is the role of data in the product management process as discussed in the podcast?

Data plays a crucial role in the product management process by providing insights into user behavior and preferences. It helps in making informed decisions about product features and strategies, and in validating assumptions about user needs and preferences.

How does the podcast describe the transition from a software developer to a product manager role?

The podcast mentions that in some cases, individuals who have been working as software developers transition to product management roles, especially in growing companies like Bennys where there is a need for product managers.

What advice does the podcast give for new product managers or those looking to start a career in product management?

The podcast suggests that soft skills such as curiosity, the ability to work well in dynamic environments, and problem-solving abilities are key for product managers. It also highlights the importance of being data-driven and having a user-centric approach.