Timeline
- Early 20th Century:
- 1900s-1910s: Birth of product management roots with a focus on sales and distribution.
- Mid-20th Century:
- 1931 – In 1931, product management started with a 800 word memo named “Brand Men” written by Neil McElroy. Individual managers were assigned to manage particular brands. These brand managers were in charge of not only the production of their assigned brands, but also their marketing, promotion, and overall strategy.
- 1940’s- Kanban was introduced in the late 1940’s in Japan by Toyota Production System(TPS). The term Kanban comes from two Japanese words, “Kan” which means sign and “Ban” meaning board.
- 1970s:
- Introduction of the marketing mix, including Product as a key element.
- 1980s:
- Emergence of cross-functional teams and the role of the product manager in technology companies.
- 1990s:
- Popularization of Agile development methodology.
- Internet boom and the shift towards online products and services.
- Scrum, XP and DSDM was developed in 1990
- 2000s:
- Expansion of product management influence beyond tech.
- Adoption of Lean Startup principles for iterative and customer-centric approaches.
- 2001 – Agile Manifesto was written in 2001, the Agile Manifesto is similar to a set of important rules developed by a group of people. These guidelines are not meant to implement strict procedures, but rather to help in the improvement of product management.
- 2010s:
- Dominance of Agile methodologies in product development.
- Rise of data-driven decision-making and user-centric design principles.
- Present:
- Ongoing emphasis on Agile, data-driven decision-making, and user-centricity.
- Future:
- Integration with emerging technologies like AI and ML.
- Continued emphasis on user experience, sustainability, and ethical considerations.
History and Evolution of Product Management
Product Management has evolved significantly over the years, adapting to changing business landscapes, technological advancements, and customer expectations. In this post, we will discuss and cover the brief history and evolution of Product Management.
Table of Content
- What is Product Management?
- Where did the term “product management” originate?
- History of Product Management
- Evolution of Product Management – Table:
- Conclusion: History and Evolution of Product Management
- FAQs on History and Evolution of Product Management
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