Problem Solving Skills for Product Manager

ProdUXt Manager
2 min readJun 25, 2022

Everyone is aware that Product Management is mostly about solving the problems but anyone who is breaking into a PM, mostly focuses on the solution i.e. HOW and WHAT to build, and not WHY?

Problem Solving Skills for Product Manager

If I will explain, it will go in this manner;

Many new PMs confuse themselves with finding the solution rather than understanding the problem. So, you need to do the following steps:

Step 1: WHY?

  1. Know the problem
  2. Understand whether it is worth solving (will it benefit the product/organization in any form).
  3. Understand what metrics will it change.
  4. If the problem deserves to be solved, break it down and dig into it
  5. Now, you’ll be able to understand the WHY of the problem.
  6. Then comes the later part i.e. HOW it can be solved.

Step 2: HOW?

  1. The problem can be solved either via UX or via improving the algorithm (code) or both.
  2. Create a Product Note (Research Note) on the solutions.
  3. Brainstorm with peers for the solution.
  4. Once you’ve something concrete, move to the WHAT to be done.

Step 3: WHAT?

  1. Now, you can involve the Designers as much as possible for solution feasibility.
  2. Define WHAT to be built in the form of a User Story.
  3. Groom the User Story with devs to remove most of the edge cases.
  4. Your WHAT i.e. Solution to the Problem is ready.

It’s always a Golden Circle of WHY, HOW, and WHAT for Problem Solving skills.

And More;

If you are looking to break into the PM role, I am offering a free consultation to Aspiring Product Managers

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ProdUXt Manager

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