
Product Managers should talk to product users and pour over data to determine what problems to solve. TPM’s are responsible for the “when”, and work with Engineering leads on the “how” and the “who.”īoth are generally measured by the timing and success of a product launch, with late releases falling more on TPMs and incomplete releases falling more on PMs. TPM’s often work closely with Engineering Managers and Team Leads to iron out implementation details and resourcing, and with other stakeholders across the company to create project timelines. Technical Program Managers are responsible for the execution of the requirements defined by the PM. Product managers are responsible for the “what” and the “why.” This includes researching user pain points, defining metrics to optimize that will represent success, and identifying / outlining product solutions and requirements that will address pain points. Product Managers are expected to define the Product Vision. In this article, we’ll illuminate some of these similarities and differences. So, what’s the difference between a Product Manager (PM) and a Technical Program Manager (TPM)? While Product Managers and Technical Program Managers often work closely together and share project ownership, they generally have different sets of responsibilities that require different skill sets and ultimately, different strategies for interview prep.
