By the nature of the role, every PM position is unique, to some degree.
However, there are distinct levels of what PMs know, what they do, who they manage, and the responsibilities they bear.
| Scale | Levels |
|---|---|
| Tasks Ambiguity Level | – Executes well-defined solutions |
| – Comes up with solutions to known problems/opportunities | |
| – Uncovers problems/opportunities in a defined area | |
| – Decides where to focus to uncover new problems/opportunities | |
| Ownership Area | – Feature |
| – Funnel step/Loop | |
| – Area, Motion (Activation, Retention, Growth, Monetisation) | |
| – Product | |
| – Platform | |
| – Portfolio of Products | |
| Planning Horizon | – Next feature |
| – Next quarter, backlog of features | |
| – Next half a year/year, Backlog of initiatives | |
| – Multi-year product strategy | |
| – Product/company vision | |
| Expertise Level | – Learns instruments and models |
| – Uses well-known instruments, models | |
| – Applies frameworks and methodologies | |
| – Defines methodology, advances processes | |
| – Improves models and instruments | |
| – Improves methodology | |
| P&L Ownership | – Not responsible for revenue or spending |
| – Responsible for revenue | |
| – Makes decisions about spending (headcount budget) | |
| – Responsible for profitability (EBITDA) | |
| People Management | – Doesn’t manage people directly |
| – Manages designers, data analysts, developers | |
| – Manages other PMs | |
| – Manages Senior PMs | |
| – Manages a PM team | |
| – Manages a PM department/vertical |
| Scale | Level |
|---|---|
| Tasks Ambiguity Level | – Executes well-defined solutions |
| Ownership Area | – FeatureFunnel step/Loop |
| Planning Horizon | – Next feature |
| Expertise Level | – Learns instruments and models |
| – Uses well-known instruments, models | |
| P&L Ownership | – Not responsible for revenue or spendings |
| People Management | – Doesn’t manage people directly |
| Scale | Level |
|---|---|
| Tasks Ambiguity Level | – Executes well-defined solutions |
| – Comes up with solutions to known problems/opportunities | |
| Ownership Area | – Feature |
| – Funnel step/Loop | |
| Planning Horizon | – Next feature |
| – Next quarter, backlog of features | |
| Expertise Level | – Uses well-known instruments, models |
| – Applies frameworks and methodologies | |
| P&L Ownership | – Not responsible for revenue or spending |
| – Responsible for revenue | |
| People Management | – Doesn’t manage people directly |
| – Manages designers, data analysts, developers |
| Scale | Level |
|---|---|
| Tasks Ambiguity Level | – Comes up with solutions to known problems/opportunities |
| – Uncovers problems/opportunities in a defined area | |
| Ownership Area | – Feature |
| – Funnel step/Loop | |
| – Product | |
| Planning Horizon | – Next quarter, backlog of features |
| – Next half a year/year, list of initiatives | |
| Expertise Level | – Uses well-known instruments, models |
| – Applies frameworks and methodologies | |
| – Helps others to pick and apply instruments | |
| P&L Ownership | – Not responsible for revenue or spending |
| – Responsible for revenue | |
| People Management | – Doesn’t manage people directly |
| – Manages designers, data analysts, developers |
| Scale | Level |
|---|---|
| Tasks Ambiguity Level | – Uncovers problems/opportunities in a defined area |
| – Decides where to focus to uncover new problems/opportunities | |
| Ownership Area | – Area, Motion |
| – Product | |
| – Platform | |
| Planning Horizon | – Next half a year/year |
| – Multi-year product strategy | |
| Expertise Level | – Applies frameworks and methodologies |
| – Helps others to pick and apply instruments | |
| – Defines methodology, advances processes | |
| – Improves models and instruments | |
| P&L Ownership | – Responsible for revenue |
| – Makes decisions about spending (headcount budget) | |
| People Management | – Manages designers, data analysts, developers |
| – Manages other PMs |