When companies look to speed up new product development, increase market share, increase gross profit and drive revenue, they turn to the trusted expertise of the Product Manager. When product managers look to increase their influence, they turn to a number of certifications that improve their skill set and vastly improve their knowledge.
New Product Development is Essential to Business Success
Nothing is worse than a stale product offering. Every company knows that a successful product launch is pivotal to driving sales and remaining front and center in the eyes of customers. It’s all about growing sales and becoming market experts. No other position is more valuable in new business development than that of the product manager.
What are the Responsibilities of a Product Manager?
Product managers are counted on to manage the entire process of a successful product launch. They must be detail oriented, imaginative and never allow any minor delay to adversely affect the eventual introduction of a given product into a new market or industry. Along the way, they must be well versed in marketing, budgeting, planning and inventory management.
Perhaps the most important part of their success is their ability to properly manage the product's life before launch. In this case, they must work closely with engineering & design, production as well as sales & marketing to ensure the overall timeline for product launch is respected. So, what are some of the certifications that product managers should pursue?
CPM: Certified Product Manager
This certification involves intense business case study analysis, market trend and product lifecycle management approaches and provides a thorough foundation on writing business and marketing plans. Applicants will be able to see the importance behind performing a competitive market and product lifecycle analysis and the importance of budgeting and planning for success.
CPMM: Certified Product Marketing Manager
This certification is more geared towards brand managers, but is equally effective for both product and project managers. It provides more in-depth analysis on market influencers and delves more deeply into the importance of understanding a company’s market, its competitors, their pricing and customer requirements. It ties all this information into a cohesive marketing plan and budget approach.
ACPM: Agile Certified Product Manager
Much like the name implies, the Agile Certified Product Manager certification provides the applicant with the necessary tools to manage multiple timelines and cross-functional project teams. In this case, it’s the essential certification for those responsible for multiple product launches at a given time.
When product managers look to increase their visibility with employers, they must understand the importance of a credited certification. These certifications bring substance to their field experience and help in propelling individuals along their career path.
Ian Johnson - I currently run a business blog called www.driveyoursuccess.com. I have over 15 years consulting experience in production cell management, ...
