Product Manager vs Project Manager

Product managers and project managers are two of the key engines behind successful digital builds. While their titles sound similar, they play distinctly different roles in ensuring a project runs smoothly.

Not really sure what the specific difference is? Don’t worry – you are certainly not alone! It is one of the most common questions we get asked.

At Hiyield, we see these roles as two sides of the same coin. Let’s discuss the responsibilities, the differences, and why, when they work together, they are the power duo you want on your team.

What is a product manager?

A product manager owns the WHY and WHAT for a product.

Think of the product manager as the strategic visionary. They act as the voice of the user and are responsible for the product’s ultimate success. Their main goal is to maximise value by ensuring the development team is solving the right problems.

Some of the key responsibilities our product managers handle include:

• Product vision & strategy: Defining the long-term direction of the product to ensure it meets your business goals
• User stories & acceptance criteria: Creating narratives that define features from a user’s perspective and outlining the exact conditions for them to be considered “complete”
• Backlog grooming: Constantly refining and prioritising the list of features to ensure the most high-value items are developed first
• Sprint planning: Organising tasks for upcoming development sprints based on client priorities and user needs
• Design collaboration: Working closely with the design team to ensure visual and functional aspects align with the user experience
• User testing: Validating the product against real user expectations to ensure it is the right fit for the market
• Client feedback loops: Incorporating valuable input from clients and stakeholders to continuously improve the product

What is a project manager?

A project manager owns the “WHEN” and the “HOW.”

While the product manager focuses on the vision, the project manager focuses on the execution. They are the logistical leaders who ensure the project stays on track, within scope, and under budget.

Some of the key responsibilities our project managers handle include:

• Primary client contact: Acting as your main day-to-day point of contact regarding logistics and updates
• Timeline management: Rigorous planning to ensure the project milestones are hit and the build runs smoothly against the schedule
• Budget oversight: Monitoring project spend to ensure resources are used efficiently and within the agreed costs
• Resource allocation: Ensuring the right developers and designers are available and have the capacity to do the work
• Risk identification: Spotting potential bottlenecks or risks early and mitigating them to minimise disruption
• Scope management: Protecting the team from “scope creep” to ensure delivery dates are met without overworking the team
• Status reporting: Tracking progress and providing transparent reports to keep both the internal team and the client aligned

Where do they work together?

At the start of a new build, a product manager and a project manager work together to review requirements. The product manager defines the features needed to achieve the vision, while the project manager maps out the timeline and resources required to deliver them.

Throughout the project, they maintain a healthy balance:

• Vision alignment: They collaborate to ensure the product vision is ambitious but achievable within the timeframe
• Team communication: Facilitating clear communication within the team helps the project run smoothly
• Collaborative prioritisation: When challenges arise, they work together to decide which features can be swapped or adjusted without sacrificing the product’s core value

Having both roles ensures that your digital product is not only finished on time but is also a product that your users actually want.

We hope this blog gives you an insight into the differences between product management and project management. Get in touch today to find out how a Hiyield product manager and project manager can work together to bring your ideas to life.