Blackblot Product Manager’s Toolkit™

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Blackblot Product Manager’s Toolkit™ (PMTK) Version 3.5

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Blackblot - Product Management Expertise™

* Registered users of Blackblot Product Manager’s Toolkit™ (PMTK) receive free and unlimited updates and upgrades.

PMTK Preface

· PMTK License – Single-user product license agreement.

· PMTK Overview – Overview and description of Blackblot “Product Manager’s Toolkit™” (PMTK).

· PMTK Distribution Guidelines – PMTK templates and PMTK output document distribution rules and rights.

· PMTK Update History – List of additions and changes to the versions of PMTK.

PMTK Methodology

· PMTK Core Models

· PMTK Action Model – Reference framework which governs the sequence of using PMTK templates.

· PMTK Flow Model – Applying the PMTK Action Model in a stage-gate like fashion.

· PMTK Task Model – Synchronizing PMTK templates with Blackblot’s concepts of a product management team and a product definition team.

· PMTK Support Models

· PMTK Action-Team Model – Synchronization of “PMTK Action Model” with “Blackblot Product Management Team Model”.

· PMTK MVP Pricing Model – Illustration of a practical product pricing process.

· PMTK PRM Model – Illustration of a market requirement’s internal structure.

· PMTK Problem Echelon Model – Illustration and mapping of the various problems handled by the industry and the market.

· PMTK Product Tree Model – Illustration of the ways product functionality can be divided or grouped to make a better offering.

· Blackblot Concept Models

· Blackblot Product Management Team Model – Illustration of the responsibilities and makeup of the product management team.

· Blackblot Product Definition Team Model – Illustration of the responsibilities and makeup of the product definition team.

· Blackblot Product Frames Model – Illustration that demonstrates how product functionality is built.

· Blackblot Marketing Model – Illustration that maps the various marketing activities within the marketing domain.

· PMTK Implementation And Consulting

· PMTK Implementation Plan – Phased process for introducing and implementing PMTK methodology within a company.

· Blackblot Product Management Models – Overview of Blackblot’s product management models (Microsoft PowerPoint).

PMTK Product Planning

· Requirements Management

· PRM Market Requirements – Description of the market opportunity, market problem and the resulting market requirements. Part of the “Procedural Requirements Management™” seminar.

· PRM Product Requirements – High-level description of the functional solution, intended use and the set of features it provides, that addresses the market problem and satisfies needs. Part of the “Procedural Requirements Management™” seminar.

· PMTK Market Requirements – Describing the product and the market into which the product will be introduced. An "inclusive" approach in which business information, market and product requirements are all bundled together in the same document.

· Use Cases – Ways various users put the product to use and under which scenarios.

· Features Matrix – Managing actual product characteristics (Microsoft Excel).

· Product Roadmap – Plan or vision that describes a product’s evolution.

· Pricing Model

· Pricing Model – Building a product pricing model.

· Pricing Model Spreadsheet – Tool for establishing a market-value driven base price (Microsoft Excel).

· Win/Loss Analysis

· Win/Loss Analysis Questionnaire – Information gathering tool in a process whose output helps to improve products and develop better sales functions.

· Win/Loss Analysis Report – Summary results reporting tool in a process whose output helps improve products and develop better sales functions.

· Customer Visit – Planning customer visits with the intent of better understanding their needs.

PMTK Product Marketing

· Business Case

· Business Case – Examination of a potential market opportunity on a product level.

· Business Case Presentation – Concise overview of a business case for presentation to stakeholders (Microsoft PowerPoint).

· Competitor Analysis – Analysis of competing companies, partially via their products.

· Product Comparison – Tabular comparison of competing products.

· Corporate Mission – General business direction and company purpose.

· Product Positioning – Basis for clear and focused marketing messages that communicate the product’s value proposition to multiple audiences.

· Value Documents

· Sales Axioms – Fundamental concepts the product is built upon.

· Problem/Solution/Feature/Benefit – Outlining a product’s ability to address the overall customer problem by merit of its feature scope and capabilities.

· Unique Selling Proposition – Key value differentiator which sets the product apart from other competing products.

· Market Plan – Description of the long-term goals, and messages delivered to the target market, relative to a particular product.

· Marketing Communications

· Company Profile – Overview description of a company.

· Product Backgrounder – Product/service overview information at a glance.

· Collateral Matrix – List of various marketing communications collateral items.

· Press Release Questionnaire – Eliciting targeted information for creating meaningful press releases.

· Sales Support

· Company Presentation – Broad company overview for internal and external audiences (Microsoft PowerPoint).

· Product Presentation – Broad product overview for internal and external audiences (Microsoft PowerPoint).

· Lead Generation – Process to discover and qualify prospective customers.

PMTK Process Efficiency

· Meeting Rules – Rules and general guidelines for conducting productive corporate meetings.

· Management By Objectives – Intelligent form of self-management.

· Decision Making – Driving an effective process of decision making within a project.

· Deliverable Sign-Off – Tool for securing acceptance and commitment to deliverables.

· Generic Templates

· Generic Document – General Microsoft Word document template.

· Generic Presentation – General Microsoft PowerPoint presentation template based on the format used in Blackblot courses.

· Bundle Book

· Bundle Book – Central repository of documents related to a particular product.

· Bundle Book Folder – Product bundle book folder structure for organizing product documents or deliverables.

· Gap Analysis – Procedure for assessing how well product management tasks are being performed.

· Performance Review

· Performance Review – Product management merit and performance measurement process and tool.

· Performance Review Matrix – Product management merit and performance measurement process and tool (Microsoft Excel).

PMTK Personnel Management

· PMTK Career Development

· Curriculum Vitae – Individual’s professional history, skills sets, and specific key contributions to convey one’s value to an organization.

· Professional Development Plan – Process to develop or increase the professional competencies of product management professionals.

· PMTK Team Management

· PMTK Role Descriptions – Framework for the roles which conform to the PMTK methodology.

· PMTK Job Description – Framework for preparing a PMTK team model compliant job description.

· PMTK Interview Process – Framework for administering a product management oriented interview process.

Blackblot Support Articles

· Strategic Product Management™ Seminar

· Who’s Driving Your Company? – Examination of common product delivery strategies.

· Product Management Team – Formalizing and structuring the responsibilities and makeup of the product management team.

· Procedural Requirements Management™ Seminar

· Crafting Market Requirements – Methodology to identify and articulate market requirements.

· Product Definition Team – Establishing a market-driven product definition process and team to match.

· Business and Market Planning™ Seminar

· Concept of Marketing – Insight into the concept, structure and elements of the marketing domain.

· Value-Marketing Model – Presenting the value marketing method and marketing messages model.

· Market-Value Pricing™ Seminar

· Extending Product Life Cycle Stages – Exploring the product life cycle model and ways to extend the life of a product.

· Miscellaneous Professional Articles

· The Market-Driven Certification – Overview of the “Blackblot Product Management Professional™” (BPMP) certification program.

Blackblot Training Program

· Product Management Courses

· Strategic Product Management for Planners™ – Introduces high-tech product management and expands topic of market requirements. SPM and PRM seminars (three days).

· Strategic Product Management for Marketers™ – Introduces high-tech product management and expands topic of business and market planning. SPM and BMP seminars (three days).

· Interactivity and Communication™ – Explores crucial soft skills, specifically in the context of a product manager’s line of work. IC seminar (one day).

· Market-Value Pricing™ – Delineates useful concepts, models, and processes that aid the making of actual pricing decisions. MVP seminar (one day).

· Product Management Workshops

· Onsite Facilitation Workshop™ – Promotes an internal common understanding and discussions about product management. (half-day or one-day).

· Training Program Tools

· Blackblot Training Needs Evaluator – Questionnaire helping training candidates choose the course or courses that best fit their professional and corporate needs.

· Blackblot Product Management Glossary – Glossary containing the terms commonly used in Blackblot’s training programs and material.

· Training Program Overview and Benefits

· Blackblot Product Management Training Program – Concise overview of the Blackblot product management training program (Microsoft PowerPoint).

· Blackblot Training Program Benefits – Summary of the Blackblot product management training program’s features and benefits.

· Training Program Color Coding Scheme

Booklet	PMTK	SPM	PRM	BMP	MVP	IC
Color	White	Gray	Blue	Yellow	Orange	Purple

Blackblot Seminar Action Plans

· Strategic Product Management™ – SPM seminar action plan, offering concise product management related guidelines.

· Procedural Requirements Management™ – PRM seminar action plan, offering concise product planning related guidelines.

· Business and Market Planning™ – BMP seminar action plan, offering concise business and market planning related guidelines.

· Interactivity and Communication™ – IC seminar action plan, offering concise product management soft skills related guidelines.

· Market-Value Pricing™ – MVP seminar action plan, offering concise product pricing related guidelines.

Blackblot Content Retention Tools

CRT Name	Corresponding Article	Relevant Seminar	Questions
CRT WDYC	Who’s Driving Your Company?	Strategic Product Management™	40
CRT PMT	Product Management Team	Strategic Product Management™	88
CRT PDT	Product Definition Team	Procedural Requirements Management™	109
CRT CMR	Crafting Market Requirements	Procedural Requirements Management™	122
CRT COM	Concept of Marketing	Business and Market Planning™	150
CRT VMM	Value-Marketing Model	Business and Market Planning™	126

Blackblot Product Management Professional™ (BPMP) Certification Program

· Blackblot Certification Program – Concise overview of the BPMP certification program (Microsoft PowerPoint).

· Blackblot Certification Program FAQ – Detailed overview of the BPMP certification program.

· Blackblot Certification Program Agreement – Detailed information about the contractual elements of the BPMP certification program.

· BPMP Certification Logo Pack – Graphic BPMP certification program marks for use by BPMP certified individuals.

· BPMP Test Area – Online BPMP certification test registration and test taking website.

PMTK Action Model

▼Product Planning▼

Planning►

Definition►

Development►

Maintenance►

Describe market problems and needs