Unlocking the Power of Collaboration: Product Managers and Engineers

The Product Manager’s World

Product managers are the masterminds behind product development. They work with multiple stakeholders to bring products to life, and their primary goal is to make the product successful. However, they can’t do it alone. They need the expertise of engineers to turn their vision into a reality.

The Engineer’s Expectations

Engineers are the backbone of product development. They want to be involved in the strategy and decision-making process, not just coding. Here are some key expectations engineers have from product managers:

• Involve them early and often: Engineers want to be part of the strategy workshops, customer interviews, and feature prioritization.
• Clear requirements: Engineers need clear user stories, organized sprint backlogs, and well-defined requirements to start building.
• Don’t over-engineer the process: Engineers want to get started quickly, without too many meetings and checklists.
• Be available: Engineers expect product managers to be responsive to their questions and concerns during the sprint.


### Example of Clear Requirements

* User Story: As a user, I want to be able to login to the app using my email and password.
* Acceptance Criteria:
+ The user can enter their email and password.
+ The user can submit the form.
+ The app validates the user's credentials.
+ The app redirects the user to the dashboard.


The Product Manager’s Expectations

Product managers also have expectations from engineers:

• Keep them informed: Engineers should keep product managers updated on any concerns or blockers they encounter.
• Challenge their thinking: Engineers should question and challenge the product manager’s problem statement, thought process, and proposed solution.

A Symbiotic Relationship

The relationship between product managers and engineers is one of mutual respect and dependence. Product managers rely on engineers to build the product, while engineers rely on product managers to provide direction and guidance. By working together closely, they can create a successful product that meets user needs.

Best Practices for Collaboration

To foster a collaborative environment, product managers and engineers should:

1. Establish clear communication channels: Regular meetings, open communication, and transparency are key to successful collaboration.
2. Define roles and responsibilities: Clearly define each other’s roles and expectations to avoid confusion and overlap.
3. Prioritize feedback and iteration: Encourage feedback and iteration to ensure the product meets user needs and is of high quality.


### Example of a Collaborative Workflow

1. Product Manager creates a new user story and adds it to the sprint backlog.
2. Engineer reviews the user story and provides feedback on the acceptance criteria.
3. Product Manager updates the user story based on the engineer's feedback.
4. Engineer starts working on the user story and keeps the product manager updated on their progress.
5. Product Manager reviews the engineer's work and provides feedback on the implementation.