AMA: Eventbrite Senior Director of Product, Strategy and Operations, Sam Friedman on Product Development Process

In my experience, there is no golden ratio or right answer to this question. Many factors determine what the "right" ratio is depending on the industry, org structure, size of the company, and maturity of the company. I have seen PM to Eng ratios from 1PM to 3 engineering all the way up to 1PM for every 20 engineers. Given you are the first PM you are likely part of a start up and if you are within the tech industry 1 PM to 8 Engineers feels reasonable as you get started and need to build and sc ...Read More

Collaboration between product development, engineering, design, and other teams is crucial for successful product outcomes. When working with an engineering manager, design team, and engineers, the following practices can be beneficial, especially in the context of developing products for a developer audience: Define Clear Objectives and Requirements: Work closely with stakeholders to define clear product objectives and requirements. This includes understanding the needs of the developer audienc ...Read More

The end-to-end product development process can vary based on the nature of the product, the industry, and the specific methodologies used by a company. However, a general product development lifecycle typically involves the following stages: Idea Generation Market Research Conceptualization and Planning Feasibility Assessment Design and Prototyping Development Testing Deployment Launch Post-Launch Monitoring and Support Iterative Development End-of-Life or Product Retirement It's important to no ...Read More

This is what I call "healthy tension" and should exist within any responsible organization. The reality is, as a product management organization, we are always operating within constraints. That could be a timeline, information gaps, budget, or resources. Balancing product delivery and growth in the face of financial constraints requires strategic decision-making, prioritization, and efficient resource utilization. Here are some strategies to help navigate this challenge: Adopt a Minimum Viable ...Read More

Balancing "shipping on time" with ensuring you have the right market insights to prioritize the roadmap correctly is a common challenge in product development. Striking the right balance involves a combination of proactive planning, effective communication, and a continuous feedback loop. Here are some strategies I have used to achieve this balance: Adopt agile methodologies that facilitate iterative development. Break down the development process into smaller, manageable cycles and continuously ...Read More

Ensuring that the engineering team understands the project scope is a joint effort between product management and engineering. To do this effectively, there are a many strategies that can help. The key is to lean into collaboration and communication structures that allow for understanding and refinement. Effective communication, documentation, and collaboration are key components of achieving this understanding. Here are some strategies that I have used successfully: Project Documentation Infra: ...Read More

Setting clear and realistic expectations between development teams and leadership is key to the success of any product development team. Here are some strategies I use to help set expectations effectively: Clearly articulate goals, timelines, and challenges. Regularly update leadership on progress and any deviations from the plan. Ensure that development goals align with the broader business objectives. Help leadership understand how the development work contributes to the company's overall succ ...Read More

Engineering is a key partner in any product development organization and, as such, should be in the box with you, thinking about the problem statements impacting your customer. I always like to include my Eng partners in problem definition as early as possible; it fosters a customer-centric dev squad and promotes collaboration early in the process of developing a new feature or product. Here are some activities that I find are non-negotiable activities that you should include your Eng partners i ...Read More