This week, Product Faculty hosted Zafeer Rais, Sr Product Supervisor at Zalando, for a particular #AskMeAnything session. Zafeer shares his ideas on how empathy is an important ability new PMs have to develop, buyer analysis, and information analytics.
Meet Zafeer
Zafeer Rais is a Zalando Senior Product Supervisor with years of expertise constructing SaaS merchandise in world groups throughout the US, Asia, and Europe. He enjoys a problem and getting the entire group motivated and centered on fixing robust issues. His robust folks expertise enable him to deliver groups collectively and have given him the arrogance to share his abilities as a mentor within the Product Administration group.
Many skilled Product Managers additionally go into session. What do you do once you’re working with two shoppers which might be opponents?
If the character information you’re dealing with is confidential you’d be required to signal an NDA. Ethically I feel it’s flawed to share earlier shopper information with a brand new shopper. I’d not try this. It relies on what you outline as “invaluable”. Then once more you’re the finest decide. Morals play an vital position right here.
Do you construct new merchandise floor up or is it largely options and enhancements?
That might rely upon the issue you’re fixing. So there is no such thing as a fastened rule. Nonetheless you’d largely be constructing options and enhancements slightly than new merchandise as it’s cheaper as properly. I’d say deal with constructing options above all.
How do you usually go forward with buyer / market analysis to realize product market match?
Discuss to customers, inside stakeholders, exterior stakeholders and take a look at buyer information. Buyer information could be assist tickets, qualitative and quantitative information and consumer interview. You may also do secondary analysis and aggressive evaluation.
As a PM do you need to do information analytics your self or do you rely upon an analytics group?
Properly that relies on how large your group is. Ideally I wish to have an analytics group, because it takes loads of your time, nonetheless if not I’d do it myself. The best way to work with analytics group is mutual. You inform them what you are attempting to resolve and so they may help you with the perfect information. Many a occasions there are alternative ways to get information which you may not concentrate on. Therefore as an alternative of laying down necessities, lay down the issue.
I’ve 18 years of Challenge Administration expertise with some inside merchandise / software developed. Making an attempt to get into Product Administration. Any recommendation?
Best could be to attempt an entry into your individual product. Discuss to Product Group, supply to assist and be taught, shadow them, look out for openings in your individual Product Group. You’ve the data of the product. Put that to make use of.
Any remaining recommendation?
My recommendation to aspiring Product Managers could be to develop a way of empathy. Product Managers must be robust collaborators.
