TEI 002: The Product Manager’s Most Powerful Questions: Ask “What Else” and...

Global Product Management Talk is pleased to bring you another
episode of The Everyday Innovator. The podcast is all about helping
people involved in developing and managing products become more
successful, grow their careers, and STANDOUT from their peers.
Welcome to my first “Everyday Innovator” discussion with a product
development professional. For my inaugural interview, I had the
pleasure of discussing product development with industrial
designer, Darshan Rane, who creates prosthetics for Otto Bock
Healthcare.  He enjoys creating products that provide an
exceptional consumer experience. He has developed products in the
fields of healthcare, fitness, and martial arts. Highlights from
the discussion include: Industrial designers are found in a wide
range of organizations beyond Apple and automotive manufacturers.
They are involved in all aspects of innovation, from identifying
ideas and conducting user research through product development and
commercialization.Understand what users need and value by:
observingasking “correct” questions and avoiding
assumptions“walking in their shoes”A cradle-to-cradle view is
needed when designing a productUnlock the power of open-ended
questions by adding “what else”Understand the constraints of the
product development project, such as cost objectives, shipping
restrictions, reimbursement levels, etc.Only fight with your
customers when developing fighting products!and, a bit funny, keep
units of measurements clear – there is a big difference between
inches and centimeters as a designer!