“Cracking the PM Career” is a book by Jackie Bavaro and Gayle Laakmann McDowell that teaches the skills, frameworks, and practices to become a great product manager. It is divided into three parts:
- The Product Manager's Toolkit: The book covers the essential skills that every product manager needs, such as user research, product design, and data analysis.
- The Product Manager's Journey: The authors discuss the different stages of a product manager's career, from entry-level to senior leadership.
- The Product Manager's Mindset: It explores the qualities that make a great product manager, such as curiosity, empathy, and leadership.
The book also includes a number of case studies and exercises to help readers apply the concepts they learn.
Here are some of the key topics covered in the book:
- The product development process: This includes understanding the different phases of product development, such as ideation, requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and launch.
- User research: This involves understanding the needs of users through surveys, interviews, and usability testing.
- Product design: This involves creating wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to visualize the product.
- Data analysis: This involves using data to make informed decisions about the product.
- Product metrics: This involves tracking the performance of the product to measure its success.
- Product leadership: This involves leading and managing a product team to deliver successful products.
Cracking the PM Career is a comprehensive guide for product managers who want to keep growing their career. It is packed with practical advice and insights from experienced product managers. If you are serious about a career in product management, this book is a must-read.
