The ultimate guide to product operations | Melissa Perri and Denise Tilles

This podcast episode discusses the role of product operations in improving product management efficiency and overall company success. It emphasizes the importance of having a product ops role in a company to free up product managers from operational tasks and allow them to focus on strategic work. The three pillars that define the scope of product ops are explored, including business and data insights, customer and market insights, and process and practices. The podcast highlights the significance of integrating user research and customer insights into the product development process and the role of product ops in streamlining research activities. It also addresses the challenges faced by product managers and recommends the implementation of a product operations team to support them. The structure, roles, and hiring considerations for product ops teams are discussed, as well as the future of software operations and the value of product ops insights. The podcast concludes with case studies, advice on starting and building product management teams, hiring for product ops roles, and insights from industry professionals in the field of product operations. Takeaways • Product operations has gained popularity in many successful organizations and is increasingly becoming a mature function with dedicated teams or individuals responsible for it. • Product operations aims to free up product managers from operational tasks and allow them to focus on their core responsibilities and strategic work. • The three pillars of product ops are business and data insights, customer and market insights, and process and practices. These pillars play different roles in companies at different stages of growth and transformation. • Product ops teams play a crucial role in providing business data and insights, enabling smart decision-making by product managers. • Integrating user research and customer insights into the product development process is essential for enhancing decision-making and customer satisfaction. • Product managers should retain decision-making authority and collaborate with product ops to enhance decision-making speed and quality. • The role of product ops is to provide relevant and actionable insights to product managers, enabling them to make informed decisions based on data analysis. • Using tools like Jira Product Discovery can streamline product development, improve collaboration among stakeholders, and replace cumbersome spreadsheets. • While software operations may evolve, there will always be a need for product ops to optimize and streamline processes using software, tools, and frameworks. • The structure and roles within a product ops team should be carefully considered to ensure the right balance between personnel and expertise. • When building a product management team, starting with one person and choosing a pillar with high leverage can lead to quick wins and momentum. • Hiring decisions for product ops roles should consider experience, potential, coaching availability, and organizational readiness. • Different roles within product ops teams require specific skills and backgrounds, such as data interpretation and communication, system thinking, and user research. • The implementation of product ops can significantly enhance decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and align product efforts with company strategy. • The experience and success of product ops teams in companies like Athena Health highlight the value and contributions of product operations. • Collaboration, book recommendations, cultural recommendations, interview questions, product discoveries, and personal mottos are subjects of discussion among individuals in the product operations field.