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Which role is more strategic and has more power in the Tech industry, the PM or the PMM? Who has the final call on products decisions?

4 Answers
Judy Abad
Judy Abad
TripActions Global Director, Business Strategy and CommsSeptember 19
As Mary said, it definitely depends on how you define power, but in general, the PM makes the final call on the building the product and the PMM makes the final call on the launch strategy. Well, actually, it’s really the CEO that has the final call on everything, but you get my point. 
 
In terms of which role is more strategic, it depends on what you enjoy doing and what you want to learn to do more of. PMs are generally defining the “what, why, and how” of the product, working closely with engineers and designers. PMMs define the “so what” and work closely with cross-functional partners to reach targeted audiences across channels (earned, owned, paid, partners, sales, etc). 
 

PMs and PMMs need to work closely together to understand customer needs and ship and launch the right thing. This means understanding the competitive landscape, partnering on a set of shared metrics, and sharing milestones in planning, development, launching, and supporting a new product.  
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Mary Sheehan
Mary Sheehan
Adobe Head of Lightroom Product MarketingSeptember 7

Really interesting question. It depends on what you define as power. PMs are responsible for building the product (so they ultimately have the final call on product decisions), but PMMs are tasked with getting that product out in front of the right target user. You can have the best product in the world, but if it isn't marketed, no one will know about it. 

 

The ideal situation is that PM + PMM work together, tackling big decisions together and that nothing is done in a silo. When you have a rogue PM that makes decisions irregardless of a PMM's customer data, then you have a big problem. 

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Mike Flouton
Mike Flouton
GitLab VP, ProductSeptember 7

Mary pretty much nailed this one. Ideally you both have a lot of power and divide it and wield it jointly. But if you need a direct answer to who has the final call on product decisions, it's PM. 

358 Views
Daniel Palay
Daniel Palay
KPI Sense Chief Executive OfficerMarch 4

Both must be equally strategic, just in different ways, and often on different timelines. Regarding power, it depends on how you define that. Politically speaking, my instinct says that in most companies it's PM because they "make the stuff." PMM has the "power" to make it succeed or fail in the marketplace, but unless you're a vindictive egomaniac with seriously self-destructive tendencies, chances are you're not going to wield that power to drive an outcome other than success. 

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