Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love
by Marty Cagan · 2008
In a nutshell
A comprehensive guide to building successful technology products by former eBay and Netscape executive Marty Cagan. This book provides a master class in structuring and staffing product organizations, discovering the right product, and creating products that customers will love.
Overview
"Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love" by Marty Cagan is the authority on building products customers want. The first edition, published ten years ago, established itself as the primary reference for technology product managers and can be found on the shelves of nearly every successful technology product company worldwide.
About the Author
Before founding the Silicon Valley Product Group to pursue his interests in helping others create successful products through his writing, speaking, advising and coaching, Marty Cagan served as an executive responsible for defining and building products for some of the most successful companies in the world, including Hewlett-Packard, Netscape Communications, and eBay.
Key Topics Covered
Assembling the Right People and Skills
- How to structure and staff a vibrant and successful product organization
- Building effective product teams
- Defining roles and responsibilities
Discovering the Right Product
- Techniques for product discovery
- Understanding customer needs
- Validating product ideas before building
Embracing Effective Processes
- Lightweight yet effective product development processes
- Balancing structure with agility
- Modern product management techniques
Scaling the Product Organization
- Growing from small teams to large organizations
- Maintaining product excellence at scale
- Organizational design patterns
Creating Strong Product Culture
- Building a culture of innovation
- Empowering product teams
- Fostering product thinking throughout the organization
Target Audience
This book is essential reading for:
- Product managers at all levels
- Product designers and UX professionals
- Engineering leaders and developers
- Startup founders building technology products
- Anyone involved in creating tech products
Editions
The second edition includes updated practices and techniques reflecting the evolution of product management over the past decade. The SVPG library also includes companion books: EMPOWERED, LOVED, and TRANSFORMED, available as the "PRODUCT IS HARD: SVPG Box Set."
Impact
One reviewer called it "If you only have one book on product management, this is the one." The book has become the standard reference for technology product managers worldwide and is widely considered the most comprehensive and authoritative guide to modern product management.
Reference
Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.
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