Understanding the Role of a Product Manager in SAFe®

For those businesses looking to Scale Agile, SAFe^® (Scaled Agile Framework) is one of the most popular frameworks. The SAFe^® framework is used by leading organizations across the globe. SAFe^® helps organizations at every stage and empowers them to deliver the desired value to customers.

In the SAFe^®, the Product Management is responsible for handling all the work at the Program level. From creating the product to its deployment, all the work is handled by the Product Management team. It is also responsible for defining and maintaining the products so as to meet the customer’s requirements. The Product Manager heads the Product Management.

A Product Manager with SAFe^® Agile Product Management (APM) Certification has several responsibilities on his shoulders, from handling product building (software) to its successful launch.

The role of a Product Manager (PM) who has completed the SAFe^® Agile Product Management (APM) training:

A Product Manager plays a key role in the SAFe^® environment. He has several responsibilities to fulfil. However, the roles and responsibilities of a SAFe^® Product Manager may vary based on the complexities of the products developed by the organization. For example, one Product Manager may be responsible for all aspects of a single product being developed, while another may be responsible for overseeing the development of several products.

• PM is an individual who identifies the customer’s needs and market demands as per the present scenario.
• Defining a product vision and capabilities that will meet the needs of the customer.
• Understand and prioritize the needs of customers and make changes to the product accordingly.
• Align stakeholders around the product vision.
• Make sure that the product that is being developed delights the customers and is profitable for the enterprise.
• Ensuring the overall success of all the products that are under him.
• Striking the perfect balance between various teams in an organization—sales, marketing, and product development.
• Provide feedback to continuously improve the marketability of products and ensure that they are best positioned.
• Have a long-term vision for the product that is being developed.
• Create and manage the program backlog.
• Prioritize features so that they fit into the Program Increment (PI).
• The Product Manager interacts and develops a healthy collaboration with business owners, customers, Product Owners, release train engineers, system architects, solution managers, epic owners, etc.

Key responsibilities of a Product Manager in SAFe^®

A Product Manager who has completed the SAFe^® Agile Product Management (APM) course has a number of important responsibilities to fulfill.

Vision and product roadmap

The Product Management and Product Manager are mainly responsible for identifying, updating and defining a vision aligned with the short- and long-term goals of an organization while also keeping in mind the customers’ needs. The main responsibility of a Product Manager is to create the product roadmap. The roadmap should have an all-inclusive timeline of what needs to be done for the product to succeed. The Product Manager defines the roadmap based on various delivery milestones and feedback is received from Program Increment.

Program backlog

The Product Manager is entrusted with the responsibility of creating the program backlog. All the specific and useful features are defined in the Kanban program. They are agreed upon and approved by the Product Management and moved Program backlog. Creating and managing program backlogs is a major responsibility of a SAFe^® Product Manager. The SAFe^® Agile Product Management (APM) training helps Product Managers learn and understand how to manage backlogs effectively.

Transparency

Transparency is an effective way for teams to achieve top-notch production standards along with high speed. It is the responsibility of a SAFe^® Product Manager to create an environment of trust and transparency. In a transparent environment, it becomes easy to spot errors, identify bugs, and get rid of them early.

Program execution

When it comes to program execution, a SAFe^® Product Manager is a central point around which an organized team is created and works on a shared vision. The Product Manager and the team achieve the desired result by working together in coordination with each other.

Built-in quality

A Product Manager ensures multi-functional team coordination and bridges the gaps between various teams. Effective coordination enables Product Management teams to follow a comprehensive approach toward implementation and product delivery. Thus, a SAFe^® Product Manager can help improve the implementation, tracking, and testing processes, to ensure the top-notch quality of the product being built.

Product Managers who have the SAFe^® Agile Product Management (APM) Certification play a pivotal role in a SAFe^® environment. They serve as a coach and guide the teams through meticulous planning, ensuring that the end results (the product) delight the customers and help in the expansion of the business.

Are you looking to get the SAFe^® Agile Product Management (APM) Certification?

For the examination, you first need to register for a SAFe^® Agile Product Management (APM) course. AgilityPAD, a trusted institute, offers SAFe^® Agile Product Management (APM) training. For more information about the training programs and courses, contact AgilityPAD today.