Each week I scour articles, wading through the dogs, and bringing you the best insights to help product managers, developers, and innovators be heroes.

What is takes to be a successful product manager — from interviews with 15 expert product managers. While product management roots began in 1930 (Ellen Chisa’s article provides a useful history) and professional groups for product managers have existed for decades (e.g., PDMA and AIPMM), the profession of product manager is new to many people and has been receiving much attention lately. Learn from interviews with 15 leading product managers what it means to be a product manager and how to be successful at  http://www.ymedialabs.com/product-manager-skills/

The many and conflicting paths to innovation – no one “right” way. Like many people, I searched for the book or consultant that had the solution for innovation earlier in my career. Now, after training numerous product managers at well-recognized companies and helping businesses with their innovation practices, I have seen what the author of this article shared – that there is not one best or correct innovation approach. I often get involved with companies after they have spent considerable money learning “the way” only to find out it didn’t “stick” and make a real difference in the organization. Innovation is organic and needs to be created by the organization, which is what I enable them to do. Read about the various ways organizations innovate in this article http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2016/05/06/there-is-no-one-true-path-to-innovation/3/#5ff37d657544

What is innovation – 5 elements. Many more organizations project an image of being an innovator than those who actually innovate. This short article provides clarity about what it means to innovate… https://www.openminds.com/market-intelligence/executive-briefings/why-is-innovation-important.htm/

9 ways to create and sustain innovation. Google’s Michael Walton spoke to a group of manufacturers about creating and sustaining innovation in organizations. The concepts apply not only to manufacturers but any organization with insufficient product management and innovation capabilities. Read the 9 points at http://www.industryweek.com/innovation/googles-advice-manufacturers-innovate-and-think-big

3 Cs for how product managers can work with teams more effectively. Clarity, Collaboration, and Consistency is the 3 C framework that will improve how product managers work with teams. Read about each at https://www.finextra.com/blogposting/12560/team-needs-help-building-bridges

Interview with Intuit CIO on how product management can start in IT. CIOs have been discussing their role in innovation and tangible examples are starting to appear. Here is one – how the IT function at Intuit contributes to innovation and product development. Read the interview at http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2016/05/09/intuit-cio-atticus-tysen-develops-product-mentality-within-it/#4f25ac9aa588

4 categories that impact innovation effectiveness. (1) Individual, (2) team, (3) leader, and (4) organization are categories that hold 14 factors that impact innovation effectiveness. The details are explored in new book The Innovation Formula: The 14 Keys for Creating a Culture where Innovation Thrives by Amantha Imber. Read a summary of each factor at http://yourstory.com/2016/05/the-innovation-formula-book-review/