product-manager-toolkit

What this skill does

# Product Manager Toolkit

Essential tools and frameworks for modern product management, from discovery to delivery.

---

## Table of Contents

- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
- [Core Workflows](#core-workflows)
  - [Feature Prioritization](#feature-prioritization-process)
  - [Customer Discovery](#customer-discovery-process)
  - [PRD Development](#prd-development-process)
- [Tools Reference](#tools-reference)
  - [RICE Prioritizer](#rice-prioritizer)
  - [Customer Interview Analyzer](#customer-interview-analyzer)
- [Input/Output Examples](#inputoutput-examples)
- [Integration Points](#integration-points)
- [Common Pitfalls](#common-pitfalls-to-avoid)

---

## Quick Start

### For Feature Prioritization
```bash
# Create sample data file
python scripts/rice_prioritizer.py sample

# Run prioritization with team capacity
python scripts/rice_prioritizer.py sample_features.csv --capacity 15
```

### For Interview Analysis
```bash
python scripts/customer_interview_analyzer.py interview_transcript.txt
```

### For PRD Creation
1. Choose template from `references/prd_templates.md`
2. Fill sections based on discovery work
3. Review with engineering for feasibility
4. Version control in project management tool

---

## Core Workflows

### Feature Prioritization Process

```
Gather → Score → Analyze → Plan → Validate → Execute
```

#### Step 1: Gather Feature Requests
- Customer feedback (support tickets, interviews)
- Sales requests (CRM pipeline blockers)
- Technical debt (engineering input)
- Strategic initiatives (leadership goals)

#### Step 2: Score with RICE
```bash
# Input: CSV with features
python scripts/rice_prioritizer.py features.csv --capacity 20
```

See `references/frameworks.md` for RICE formula and scoring guidelines.

#### Step 3: Analyze Portfolio
Review the tool output for:
- Quick wins vs big bets distribution
- Effort concentration (avoid all XL projects)
- Strategic alignment gaps

#### Step 4: Generate Roadmap
- Quarterly capacity allocation
- Dependency identification
- Stakeholder communication plan

#### Step 5: Validate Results
**Before finalizing the roadmap:**
- [ ] Compare top priorities against strategic goals
- [ ] Run sensitivity analysis (what if estimates are wrong by 2x?)
- [ ] Review with key stakeholders for blind spots
- [ ] Check for missing dependencies between features
- [ ] Validate effort estimates with engineering

#### Step 6: Execute and Iterate
- Share roadmap with team
- Track actual vs estimated effort
- Revisit priorities quarterly
- Update RICE inputs based on learnings

---

### Customer Discovery Process

```
Plan → Recruit → Interview → Analyze → Synthesize → Validate
```

#### Step 1: Plan Research
- Define research questions
- Identify target segments
- Create interview script (see `references/frameworks.md`)

#### Step 2: Recruit Participants
- 5-8 interviews per segment
- Mix of power users and churned users
- Incentivize appropriately

#### Step 3: Conduct Interviews
- Use semi-structured format
- Focus on problems, not solutions
- Record with permission
- Take minimal notes during interview

#### Step 4: Analyze Insights
```bash
python scripts/customer_interview_analyzer.py transcript.txt
```

Extracts:
- Pain points with severity
- Feature requests with priority
- Jobs to be done patterns
- Sentiment and key themes
- Notable quotes

#### Step 5: Synthesize Findings
- Group similar pain points across interviews
- Identify patterns (3+ mentions = pattern)
- Map to opportunity areas using Opportunity Solution Tree
- Prioritize opportunities by frequency and severity

#### Step 6: Validate Solutions
**Before building:**
- [ ] Create solution hypotheses (see `references/frameworks.md`)
- [ ] Test with low-fidelity prototypes
- [ ] Measure actual behavior vs stated preference
- [ ] Iterate based on feedback
- [ ] Document learnings for future research

---

### PRD Development Process

```
Scope → Draft → Review → Refine → Approve → Track
```

#### Step 1: Choose Template
Select from `references/prd_templates.md`:

| Template | Use Case | Timeline |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Standard PRD | Complex features, cross-team | 6-8 weeks |
| One-Page PRD | Simple features, single team | 2-4 weeks |
| Feature Brief | Exploration phase | 1 week |
| Agile Epic | Sprint-based delivery | Ongoing |

#### Step 2: Draft Content
- Lead with problem statement
- Define success metrics upfront
- Explicitly state out-of-scope items
- Include wireframes or mockups

#### Step 3: Review Cycle
- Engineering: feasibility and effort
- Design: user experience gaps
- Sales: market validation
- Support: operational impact

#### Step 4: Refine Based on Feedback
- Address technical constraints
- Adjust scope to fit timeline
- Document trade-off decisions

#### Step 5: Approval and Kickoff
- Stakeholder sign-off
- Sprint planning integration
- Communication to broader team

#### Step 6: Track Execution
**After launch:**
- [ ] Compare actual metrics vs targets
- [ ] Conduct user feedback sessions
- [ ] Document what worked and what didn't
- [ ] Update estimation accuracy data
- [ ] Share learnings with team

---

### Positioning Statement Framework

Create a Geoffrey Moore-style positioning statement to clarify product differentiation and value. Use this before writing PRDs, go-to-market plans, or pitch decks.

#### Core Positioning Template

```
For [target user/persona]
who [underserved need or painful moment],
[product name] is a [product category]
that [primary outcome delivered].
Unlike [main alternative: competitor, workaround, or status quo],
[product name] [unique differentiation in outcome terms].
```

#### One-Sentence Value Proposition

Write a single sentence a PM can reuse in docs and slides.

#### Differentiation Proof Points

List 3 concrete proof points that support the "unlike" claim. Focus on outcomes and evidence, not adjectives.

#### Writing Rules

- Use persona-first language.
- Focus on outcomes, not feature lists.
- Keep wording specific and testable.
- "Unlike X" should name the real alternative, including status quo.
- Strong differentiation is about outcomes and evidence, not adjectives.

#### Optional Variants

- **Executive variant:** Shorter strategic wording for board decks.
- **Customer-facing variant:** Clear plain-language wording for marketing.

#### Next Steps

1. Generate 3 alternate positioning directions (Recommended)
2. Create a competitor comparison message matrix
3. Convert into homepage headline + subheadline options

---

### Recommendation Canvas

Evaluate product opportunities holistically using a structured canvas that connects problem framing to solution evidence. Useful for investment decisions, portfolio reviews, and stakeholder alignment.

#### Canvas Sections

```markdown
## Product Name
[Name of the product or service]

## Business Outcome
[Direction] [Metric] [Outcome] [Context] [Acceptance criteria]

## Product Outcome
[Direction] [Metric] [Outcome] [Context] [Acceptance criteria]

## Problem Statement Narrative
[2-3 sentences telling the persona's story from their point-of-view]

## Solution Hypothesis
If we [action/solution] for [target persona],
then we will [desirable outcome].

### Tiny Acts of Discovery
- [Small experiment focused on viability]
- [Small experiment focused on customer value]

### Proof-of-Life
Within [timeframe], we observe:
- [Quantitative measurable outcome]
- [Qualitative measurable outcome]

## Positioning Statement
For [target persona] that need [underserved need],
[product] is a [category] that [benefit].
Unlike [competitor], [product] provides [differentiation].

## Assumptions & Unknowns
- [Assumption 1]
- [Assumption 2]

## Issues/Risks (PESTEL lens)
- Political: [Risk]
- Economic: [Risk]
- Social: [Risk]
- Technological: [Risk]
- Environmental: [Risk]
- Legal: [Risk]

## Value Justification
[Yes/Yes with caveats/No with alternatives/No]
Justification: [Why this is or isn't valuable]

## Success Metrics
1. [SMART metric 1]
2. [SMART metric 2