15 Comments

Very insightful. Relates well to the successful technologists/product managers I have known. Technology leadership will do well to spell these traits out frequently across functions and experience levels and make such thinking a 'Culture' thing. Thanks!

Expand full comment

I'm going to use this post as a position description from now on.

Expand full comment

Of course, the concept of product sense is mainly focusing on products managers, but it also helps a lot of engineers and designers (and all other related funtctions) also show some kind of product sense.

And yes, I have seen people develop product sense over time. It is definitely trainable.

Expand full comment

“after we talked yesterday afternoon, I put together a prototype in the evening and it’s ready to go.”

I love it when people have this approach and focus on testable ideas!

Expand full comment

Great article!

Is it possible that you can have really good product taste, which is different to your definition on product sense? i.e., somebody who can judge really well, but maybe can't do the rapid prototype, or be any good in a hakathon?

Expand full comment

How do you define knowledge? I’d say expertise and knowledge are not the same thing. You can study and gain a lot of knowledge about a certain topic. Then you try to apply it in real-life and get stuck, fail or realise what you knew wasn’t applicable. Knowledge itself is a broad concept.

Expand full comment

Product sense = expertise

Expand full comment