A1 Journal article (refereed)
Product managers in software startups : A grounded theory (2024)
Melegati, J., Wiese, I., Guerra, E., Chanin, R., Aldaeej, A., Mikkonen, T., Prikladnicki, R., & Wang, X. (2024). Product managers in software startups : A grounded theory. Information and Software Technology, 174, Article 107516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2024.107516
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Melegati, Jorge; Wiese, Igor; Guerra, Eduardo; Chanin, Rafael; Aldaeej, Abdullah; Mikkonen, Tommi; Prikladnicki, Rafael; Wang, Xiaofeng
Journal or series: Information and Software Technology
ISSN: 0950-5849
eISSN: 1873-6025
Publication year: 2024
Publication date: 13/06/2024
Volume: 174
Article number: 107516
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2024.107516
Research data link: https://zenodo.org/records/10070156
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/96194
Abstract
This study aims to describe the role of product managers in the context of software startups.
Method:
We performed a Socio-Technical Grounded Theory study using data from blog posts and interviews.
Results:
The results describe the product manager as a multidisciplinary, general role, not only guiding the product by developing its vision but also as a connector that emerges in a growing company, enabling communication of software development with other areas, mainly business and user experience. The professional performing this role has a background in one of these areas but a broad knowledge and understanding of key concepts of the other areas is needed. We also describe how differences of this role to other lead roles are perceived in practice.
Conclusions:
Our findings represent several implications for research, such as better understanding of the role transformation in growing software startups, practice, e.g., identifying the points to which a professional migrating to this role should pay attention, and the education of future software developers, by suggesting the inclusion of related topics in the education and training of future software engineers.
Keywords: startup companies; product managers; software developers; agile methods; grounded theory; software business; software development; software sector
Free keywords: product manager; software startup; product management; agile software development; socio-technical systems; grounded theory
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2024
Preliminary JUFO rating: 3
