Before I get into product management training courses, let me make one thing clear. I am not a training instructor nor am I an educational professional, in any way. So, my recommendations have to be based entirely on experience, interviews and research, not from formal training.
So, what are have I found to be the best product management training courses?
#1 Berkeley’s Five Day Course
Berkeley is a respectable branch of UCLA, and it’s no doubt that any course they offer is going to be administered by top notch teachers, professors and professionals.
This five day course (also available in correspondence form) is a tour de force in the responsibilities and obligations of product management. It provides the best, most tested strategies for handling training issues.
Berkeley’s Five Day Course also offers an in depth look at the product lifecycle. They approach products as a living, breathing organism.
#2 Generalassemb.ly
Generalassemb.ly (which has a really clever domain name), is well respected for online and live courses on a number of business topics. Topics include marketing, UX, sociology and of course, product management.
While it’s not as ‘well known’ as Berkeley’s course, Generalassemb.ly offers an actual certification upon completion, which Berkeley does not. If you want a certificate from Berkeley you have the option to take a full time study course.
The Bottom line is that Generalassemb.ly is a great online course that is affordable and convenient. If you’re not a fan of classrooms, which I never was, you’ll find this a welcome change from a boring course.
#3 Pragmatic marketing
Another good online source is the course offered by Pragmatic Marketing. They offer a number of business and marketing courses that are comprehensive.
Product management is a tough job and a bit of a confusing science to the novice marketer. Pragmatic Marketing accounts for this learning curve by building you up step-by-step, learning the product lifecycle. They ease you into it, which is something the other two don’t take the time to do,.
The three courses listed are some of the more, well-known product management training courses, but there are many accessible and effective courses out there. I encourage you to do further research before deciding what course is right for you. Let me know if you come across any great courses.