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

 

What to get a product manager for Christmas – 10 gift ideas. Looking for something for yourself or gift ideas for a product manager colleague? This list is a good place to start this holiday season. While I would be happy with a smart notebook, the virtual whiteboard caught my attention. I hope my wife reads this!  See the list at https://www.mindtheproduct.com/2016/12/10-gifts-delight-product-manager-holiday-season/

 

Product management switching to focus on customer experience. Accenture’s survey of 351 companies found innovation efforts are moving from a product focus to creating an enhanced customer experience. Product differentiation has moved to creating more desirable experiences. Read about the study findings at http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161129005201/en/Innovation-Switching-Product-Focus-Differentiating-Customer-Experience

 

UX and product management – minimizing user effort most important. UX has become an important component of product management. A study found that exceeding expectations of customers is less important than reducing friction – making interactions easier. This article addresses 4 ways to benefit from UX. Read more at http://www.cmswire.com/customer-experience/ux-has-taken-center-stage-in-product-development-4-ways-to-get-ahead/

 

This is what happens when an innovative company loses its innovation – Apple analysis. This rather scathing story says more about the importance of innovation in enterprises than anything else. When they stop being innovation leaders, not having the courage to innovate as they did, their brand can fall quickly. Learn from this analysis of Apple at http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysomaney/2016/11/22/what-innovation-tim-cook/#5c760b807ead

 

New book for product managers from Tony Ulwick – Jobs to be Done: Theory to Practice. JTBD is an important tool for product managers. While formalization of the tool is traced to Clayton Christensen, Tony was first using the concepts. His new book shares several tools for applying JTBD. I’ll try to get Tony on The Everyday Innovator™ podcast to discuss the tools. In the meantime, the book is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/0990576744

 

7 practices for excellent product managers. (1) Know the market. (2) Know the demand. (3) Know your manufacturing capacity. (4) Keep an eye on procurement. (5) Market or de-market. (6) Anticipate your competitors. (7) Always have alternates. Read about each at http://www.marketing91.com/7-tactics-for-excellent-product-management/