Did You Know?

Product Management started way back in 1931. It all started with a memo written by Neil McElroy, a visionary at Procter & Gamble. He introduced the concept of a “Brand Man” and outlined their key responsibilities.

From Brand-Centricity to Product Management

Procter & Gamble, one of the giants in the consumer goods industry, decided to revamp their structure and become more brand-centric. This strategic shift led to the birth of Product Management within the FMCG field. It transformed product development, marketing, and management.

Hewlett-Packard’s Impact

Bill Hewlett and David Packard, the founders of Hewlett-Packard (HP), were greatly inspired by McElroy’s ideas. They introduced a divisional structure where each product group operated as a self-sustaining entity, responsible for every aspect of their product’s journey—from development and manufacturing to marketing and beyond.

Learning from Toyota: Kaizen and Genchi Genbutsu

Post-war Japan, Toyota made waves in product principles. They came up with two game-changing concepts:
Kaizen, the continuous improvement of business processes with an unwavering commitment to innovation,
and
Genchi Genbutsu, the practice of going straight to the source to gather factual insights for making the right decisions. Innovations at their Best for Product Management.

Evolving Beyond FMCG

Product Management, originally rooted in the FMCG sector, gradually expanded its reach into technology. At first, the roles of Marketing Manager and Product Manager were a bit blurry, but as time went on, a clear distinction emerged. Marketing took the reins of brand ownership and customer acquisition, while Product Management became the driving force behind value proposition and product development.

A Sustainable Competitive Advantage

In today’s business landscape, effective Product Management has become a game-changer and a secret weapon for gaining a sustainable competitive advantage.

It has evolved into a thriving discipline that welcomes individuals from various backgrounds—engineers, designers, founders, or dedicated Product Managers—united by their shared passion for driving product excellence and creating remarkable experiences for their customers.