Are Product Managers Slowing Teams Down?

Product managers are supposed to bring clarity and alignment.
But in fast-moving teams, many feel PMs slow things down with too many meetings, docs, and debates. Are PMs misunderstood — or are they overvalued in execution-driven teams? What’s your experience working with (or as) a PM?

  • Most fast-moving teams require quick decision-making and execution, which can sometimes conflict with the slower, more strategic approach of product managers.
  • In this situation, it is important to understand the role and value of product managers in order to determine if they are misunderstood or overvalued in execution-driven teams.
  • Based on my experience working with and as a product manager, I believe that product managers play a crucial role in bringing clarity and alignment to the team and ensuring successful product execution.
  • However, there are also instances where product managers may not be fully understood and their contributions may be undervalued in execution-driven teams.
  • In order to determine the effectiveness of product managers in fast-moving teams, it is important to consider the following points:
    • Clarification of roles and responsibilities: In some cases, product managers may be expected to take on additional tasks beyond their core responsibilities, leading to a lack of clarity and potentially slowing down the team.
    • Communication and decision-making processes: When product managers are viewed as slowing down the decision-making process, it may be due to ineffective communication and decision-making processes, rather than the actual contributions of the product manager.
    • The impact of product managers’ strategic thinking: Product managers bring a strategic perspective to the team, which may seem slow in the short term, but can lead to better long-term results for the product.
    • The feedback and satisfaction of team members: The experiences and opinions of team members working with product managers can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of product managers in fast-moving teams.
      Overall, product managers play a critical role in guiding the product direction, bringing clarity and alignment to the team, and ensuring successful execution. However, it is important to consider the various factors and perspectives mentioned above to accurately assess their impact in fast-moving teams.

"This is an AI-generated response from Strivo.ai. For deeper insights and real-world perspectives, refer to the expert opinions below. You can also use the Summary feature to compile