Project Management, Systems Analysis & Systems Engineering
Modern Product Management
This two-day Modern Product Management course is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to implement a product-centric approach within the organization. The curriculum covers the entire product lifecycle, from understanding user needs and defining a product vision to prioritization, agile development, testing, and data-driven decision-making.
Through multiple interactive two-hour modules, participants will learn and apply key frameworks such as Jobs to Be Done, RICE scoring, Scrum, and the Lean Startup’s Build-Measure-Learn loop. The course emphasizes hands-on learning through activities, including user persona creation, roadmap prioritization simulations, and UAT planning, all adapted to the unique context of a case study, organization or an agency.
The course focuses on adapting modern product management best practices to bridge the gap between traditional project management and a more iterative, user-focused end-to-end product approach. Each module includes recommended readings from leading product management authors like Marty Cagan and Eric Ries, providing a foundation for continued learning. The overall goal is to empower and drive more effective and efficient development of systems and software, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the warfighter and the organization as a whole, by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and data-informed decision-making.
Duration
2 days
AUDIENCE
Current and prospective Product Managers, Product Owners, Product Team, Engineers, Procurement staff, Managers, Engineers, Contracting Staff
Prerequisites
No prior product management experience is required.
- Module 1: Introduction to Modern Product Management This module introduces the core principles of product management, emphasizing a user-centric, iterative approach and its adaptation within the organization. The focus is on the product manager’s role and differences from project management.
- Module 2: Understanding User Needs & Defining the Problem This module teaches user research techniques to identify needs, create personas, and define clear problem statements, ensuring a user-focused approach to product development.
- Module 3: Defining the Product Vision and Strategy Participants learn to craft a compelling product vision, develop a strategic roadmap, and set key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with organizational mission.
- Module 4: Prioritization and Roadmapping This module covers prioritization techniques and roadmap building, enabling effective management of the product backlog and communication of plans to stakeholders.
- Module 5: Agile Development and the Product Owner Role This module explores Agile methodologies, particularly Scrum, and the Product Owner’s role in writing user stories and facilitating sprint cycles.
- Module 6: Testing, Validation, and Learning This module emphasizes continuous testing, user acceptance testing (UAT), and a culture of learning to improve the product iteratively.
- Module 7: Data-Driven Decision Making Participants learn to use data and metrics to inform product decisions, fostering a data-driven approach to product development and improvement.
- Module 8: Product Launch and Beyond This module covers product launch planning, post-launch monitoring, and managing the entire product lifecycle, including future iterations and sunsetting.
Is there a discount available for current students?
UMBC students and alumni, as well as students who have previously taken a public training course with UMBC Training Centers are eligible for a 10% discount, capped at $250. Please provide a copy of your UMBC student ID or an unofficial transcript or the name of the UMBC Training Centers course you have completed. Asynchronous courses are excluded from this offer.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Student will receive a refund of paid registration fees only if UMBC Training Centers receives a notice of cancellation at least 10 business days prior to the class start date for classes or the exam date for exams.