Episode 258: Treating Internal Tools with Equal Rigor

In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, host Melissa Perri addresses a listener's question about the difference between inbound and outbound product management. She explains that outbound product management typically deals with external customer-facing products, while inbound product management focuses on internal tools for employees, such as those used by bank tellers or platform teams. While acknowledging some differences in tools and processes like A/B testing or release cycles, Perri argues against separating these roles entirely. She emphasizes that both types of product management require the same strategic rigor, discovery, and delivery processes, as internal tools can still significantly impact the end customer experience and carry substantial risk. She advocates for treating all product management with the same level of consideration to ensure overall value delivery to customers.