Product Management Fundamentals

Curriculum

1. 01What Product Managers DoWhat a product manager is responsible for (outcomes, not just features), how product work differs from project work, how to pick a north star metric, and a first look at Paystream's new users.20 min
2. 02Understanding UsersLearn what users are trying to get done with jobs-to-be-done interviews, ask questions that don't lead, code interview notes into patterns, and see why each segment needs something different.20 min
3. 03Analysing FeedbackTurn 1,500 pieces of feedback from four sources into evidence, count themes properly, spot when one channel's loudness distorts the picture, and weigh feedback against who your users actually are.25 min
4. 04Funnels and ActivationMeasure where new users drop out with a funnel, compare steps and segments, find the activation moment that predicts staying, and size the opportunity of fixing the worst step.15 min
5. 05Retention and CohortsMeasure whether users keep coming back with cohort retention tables, compare segments and activation, and recognise the difference between a product people try and one they keep using.15 min
6. 06Prioritising with RICEScore a backlog with RICE (reach, impact, confidence and effort), compare it with prioritising by whoever asks loudest, test how sensitive the ranking is to uncertain inputs, and explain the result.25 min
7. 07RoadmapsTurn priorities into a roadmap the team can deliver (fitting the quarter's capacity, grouping work into now, next and later, and stating each item as the outcome it serves) and explain what's not on it.20 min
8. 08Measuring a LaunchCheck whether a launched feature actually worked, avoid the self-selection trap of comparing adopters with everyone else, use a randomised holdout, watch guardrails, and report an honest result.25 min
9. 09Product Specs and Success MetricsWrite a product spec that engineers, designers and the business can work from (problem, users, evidence, scope, non-goals, success metrics with baselines, guardrails and the launch plan) for Paystream's top priority.20 min
10. 10Final ProjectPlan your final project, a product review and quarter plan for Paystream, from user evidence and funnels to a prioritised, outcome-based roadmap, an honest launch review and a spec for the top priority.20 min
11. Final assessmentPass it (60% or more) to earn the Product Management Fundamentals course completion badge.