Since 2011, I have been composing blogs about product management knowledge, amassing hundreds of articles sporadically. Once, when a friend expressed interest in transitioning into product management, I compiled these articles into a list for him, hoping they would aid beginners in understanding the field.

However, each blog post stood alone, lacking a systematic framework. This realization sparked the idea to organize these insights methodically, leading to the creation of “Becoming an excellent PM”

The first edition offered a systematic review of my years of blogging, serialized in thematic sections on the blog. The second edition introduced a revamped knowledge structure, oriented around workflow processes, systematically unfolding from simple to complex, and incorporating richer cases and advanced content. The third edition, building on this workflow knowledge structure, added even more theoretical perspectives.

After six years of professional blogging, accumulating knowledge through hundreds of articles, and refining three sets of video tutorials, I am confident that these experiences and insights make this book an indispensable masterpiece in the realm of product management.

Book Introduction

This book elucidates the content knowledge according to the everyday workflow of a product manager, adhering to a structured, incremental learning approach from basic to advanced principles. It comprises three core values: methodologies, case analyses, and a systematic approach to product work.

Initially, the book introduces classic methodologies to novices in product management, as understanding these methods constitutes the fundamental step toward engaging in professional work. Upon grasping these methodologies, the book integrates case studies to illustrate the development of a product from scratch, sharing insights on product management. Finally, it systematically outlines the entire workflow of a product manager.

Specifically, the book is divided into eight major sections:

1. Professional Awareness: Introduces related concepts, specific job functions, the four quadrants of discovery, three functional roles, and commonly used software in the field.
2. Self-Improvement: Discusses the perplexities of a novice product manager, covering professional mindset, basic skills, and learning methods, complemented by the author’s advice.
3. Market Analysis: Provides a detailed examination of market analysis methods from three dimensions: environment, user, and product, aimed at teaching readers how to identify and research potential needs.
4. Product Planning: Summarizes the three essential factors and conditions required for product planning, offering formulas that enable beginners to quickly understand how to define user groups and product use scenarios.
5. Product Design: Using a highly summarized and formulaic approach, this section presents methods for product architecture and functional design, as well as ways to define product experience and value, including applicable formulas and design principles.
6. Product Documentation: Deeply analyzes the thought processes, methods, and essential details of writing nine types of documents necessary throughout a product’s lifecycle, culminating in a complete product document.
7. Requirement Implementation: Introduces SMART goal management principles, nine essential communication techniques for teams, collaborative methods, and critical aspects of project management.
8. Iteration and Optimization: Discusses the continuous iteration and upgrading of products, where product managers need to gather and analyze requirements to inform decision-making and arrange specific development and release processes.

In addition to these sections, the book also contains a comprehensive case study that discusses identifying potential markets, research, planning, product iteration, operations, data collection, and insights, concluding with potential future developments to help readers thoroughly understand the product lifecycle.

Click here for recommended reading on the author’s preface and table of contents.

The book is now available for purchase on multiple platforms such as JD.com, Dangdang, Amazon, and Tmall/Taobao.