How To Be a Great Product Manager: Enterprise vs. Startup

An edited version of this article was originally published on Productcraft.com

The role of the product manager is defined in various ways across industries. But there are common threads which run through all good product managers. It doesn’t matter if you are working at an enterprise or a startup — there is a fundamental core of competencies and skills. However, enterprise companies and startups are indeed very different beasts. The culture, people, resources, and products all make a huge difference. It comes down to more than board shorts vs. board room.

At this stage, it’s worth saying that it’s not black-and-white. Each of these two types of businesses includes myriad variations. This article seeks to draw broad distinctions. These can be used as a guide for aspiring product managers looking for their first role, experienced product managers looking for their next move, and leaders who are looking to hire the right profile to fit their business.

First, we’ll take a look at the six core dimensions of the product management role. Then we’ll take a look at five key differences between working at enterprise and startup companies. From this, we’ll be able to see how the core dimensions flex depending on the environment.

What is the core of any product manager’s role?

Straight off the bat, it’s important to understand that attitude is just as important as any hard or soft skill. Yes…