Roles for a Tech Professional Seizing Product Strategy, UX Design, and Business Development

Introduction to the Ideal Role

As technology companies grow, roles that encompass a blend of product strategy, user experience (UX) design, and business development become increasingly valuable. A product manager often embodies these diverse responsibilities, especially in larger organizations. While product strategy is a core responsibility, as companies expand, collaboration between product, UX, and business development departments grows, with each role contributing to the overall product vision.

However, for those seeking a role that combines these activities, professional services firms can also provide opportunities. In these firms, professionals often play multifaceted roles, contributing to product strategy, UX design, and business development simultaneously. This post explores the ideal positions for tech professionals who wish to excel in all three areas.

Product Manager - The Versatile Role Hub

A product manager (PM) is often the key holder for strategic, design, and business development roles. This role is characterized by its flexibility and adaptability, making the PM a central figure in driving the product lifecycle.

Product Strategy: Defining the long-term vision, goals, and steps to achieve the desired product outcomes. This involves understanding market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape. UX Design: Overseeing the design process to ensure the product meets user expectations and provides a seamless user experience. This involves working closely with UX designers to create intuitive and user-friendly interfaces. Business Development: Securing partnerships, negotiating deals, and identifying new market opportunities. This role requires strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of the business environment.

Combining Roles in Early Stage Companies

In startups and early-stage companies, the role of a product manager can be even more multifaceted. Founders or early-stage product managers often handle all these aspects, setting the product strategy, overseeing UX design, and managing business development. As the company grows, specialization occurs, and roles become more specific:

Product Planning: Gathering and prioritizing user needs and creating a roadmap for the product. Design: Collaborating with designers to create user-friendly interfaces and user experiences. Market Enablement: Identifying and developing strategies to capture and retain customers, including communication and marketing efforts.

Opportunities in Professional Services Firms

For tech professionals looking for a mix of responsibilities in a professional services firm, there are several roles that offer these opportunities:

Product Manager: Working with multiple clients to gather requirements, create prioritized backlogs, and ensure the development teams implement the client's vision. Participating in business development activities such as pre-sales and solution direction for potential clients. Business Relationship Management: Handling client relationships, ensuring clients are satisfied, and growing the footprint of engagements. Product Management: Focusing on the product lifecycle, from ideation to launch, while ensuring the product meets market needs.

Challenges and Opportunities

While a combination of product strategy, UX design, and business development is highly desirable, it's important to note that specialization typically happens as the company grows. In organizations with 5-50 people, generalized roles can work well, especially if the product is not complex and still in the early stages. However, as the company scales, these roles become more specialized, and performing all three functions can result in suboptimal performance.

For tech professionals, having a unique skill set, such as being a designer who codes or a marketer who codes, can be highly sought after. Growth hackers, who use a data-driven approach to growth marketing, can also be a valuable addition to a startup team, blending product management mentality with a focus on metrics and outcomes.

Conclusion

The perfect role for a tech professional seeking a combination of product strategy, UX design, and business development can vary depending on the organization's size and stage. Whether it's a dedicated product manager role or a multifaceted position in a professional services firm, these roles offer a dynamic and rewarding career path.