New product development can be a stressful time. Developing your idea into a real product can take some time, and you’re bound to experience some challenges along the way. But you can save yourself a lot of headaches and streamline your process by hiring a project manager. A project manager can mean different things for different industries, but there are some aspects that they all share. Here’s why you might want to hire a project manager to help with your new product development.
The product manager is an important organizational role that your business needs to fill in order to get a handle on product development. He or she is basically the CEO of the product, needing to understand the technology behind the product, the business value, and the marketing side of things. Think of the project manager as the quarterback of the product—calling the shots when they see a need, and organizing everyone to get the job done.
Sometimes the argument is made by businesses that they already have people to fulfill each of these duties, and they don’t see why they need someone to lead them all. In fact, it’s incredibly important that someone can see the whole picture and provide the strategic vision that will keep everything running smoothly towards the final product launch. The project manager will work with the different departments to make sure everyone knows what they have to deliver and when they need to deliver it. Oftentimes, without someone keeping tabs on everyone, you’ll find that there is a disparity between different aspects of product development. Rather than slow things down, a good project manager will keep every department moving towards the same goal—on time and in sync with each other.
When a project manager is doing their job correctly, they will be obsessing over the product development. They can help you identify and assess the feasibility of a product and the opportunities that are available. They also are the product’s biggest cheerleaders, constantly promoting it both inside and outside your organization.
For example, once you have a working prototype and have done market testing, you’ll start thinking about launching your product. Dates, times, locations, and shipments all need to be clarified and synchronized so that your product release is smooth and successful.
Basically, the project manager will handle the day-to-day responsibilities of making sure your product becomes a success. There’s more than enough for you to do running your business, and micromanaging is never the solution. A project manager handles new product development for you, and reports back with the information that you need to know to make an informed decision on your new product.
Pivot International offers award-winning product design, development, and manufacturing services in a variety of industries. Pivot International’s project managers take ownership of your project from concept through production. Our project managers have experience launching a diverse portfolio of award-winning products into the marketplace, so contact Pivot today if you’re looking for help turning your idea into reality.
