• Government Campus UK

Introduction to Product Management

Discover the fundamentals of product management and learn how to build products and services that meet user needs.

837 enrolled on this course

The decorative image on the course home page shows a team of product managers brainstorming about a new digital product, and displays the writing ‘Introduction to product management’ written on a white board near some sketches and handwritten notes.

Introduction to Product Management

837 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Unlimited subscription

    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

Learn about what product managers do and the techniques they use

This course covers the main product management concepts and techniques that product managers use in their day-to-day activities.

The skills and techniques discussed in the course are based on the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework, which sets out what product managers need to do at each stage of their career development.

Increase your knowledge of product management and identify user needs

You’ll increase your knowledge of product management and by the end of the course, you’ll demonstrate a basic understanding of its fundamental concepts.

You’ll also interpret information to support your decision-making and prioritisation in your product management career.

Apply product management techniques to your day job

You’ll then apply product management techniques to your day job and formulate product visions and roadmaps to improve your career within the sector.

You’ll also contribute to the product management community by sharing your experience and insights.

Learn from product management experts working in government

Throughout this course, you’ll be under the guidance of experienced product managers working at the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO - Cabinet Office) and in other departments of the UK government.

The course is based on the government manual and the Central Digital and Data Office’s Capability Framework which sets out the skills needed for digital roles in government.

Download video: standard or HD

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Products and Product Management

    • A number of post-it notes laid out on a table with people writing on them.

      Introduction to the course

      Welcome to the course! Find out what you will learn over the next 3 weeks.

    • Three people looking at post-it notes on a wall and discussing them.

      What is product management?

      Listen to product managers talk about what their jobs involve and the skills they need, and get an overview of the main techniques they use in their work.

    • Two people standing at a table in front of a small audience. One is holding a sheet of paper that they are using to give a presentation.

      Product vision and strategy

      Learn about the difference between a product vision and strategy, listen to product managers talk about what makes a good vision, and create your own product vision board.

    • Two people looking at a number of post-it notes on a wall. A larger note has visible text that says 'What you can remember?'

      Summary of the week

      A review of what we learned this week, a look forward to Week 2, and an end-of-week review test to check your learning so far.

  • Week 2

    Users

    • A close up image of two hands holding a prompt card with a user story written on it.

      Introduction to Week 2

      Find out what we will be covering in Week 2.

    • A close up image of someone writing on a post-it note. There is visible text on the note that says, 'As a user, I need to feel'.

      Who are your users?

      Let's learn about users.

    • The GDS user research lab. There is a small touch-screen and a microphone on a big table surrounded by chairs, with a large screen on the wall behind.

      User needs and user research

      Read about user needs, how to turn them into user stories, and why user research is an important aspect of building a product.

    • Two people looking at a number of post-it notes on a wall. A larger note has visible text that says 'What you can remember?'

      Summary of the week

      A review of what we learned this week, a look forward to Week 3, and an end-of-week review test to check your learning so far.

  • Week 3

    Planning and Prioritisation

    • A group of people standing in an office and talking.

      Introduction to Week 3

      Find out what we will be covering in Week 3.

    • A group of people standing in front of a wall with post-it notes on it, talking to each other and laughing.

      The minimum viable product (MVP)

      Learn about the 'minimum viable product' and why it's important for the product management cycle.

    • 3 people holding pens working on a large sheet of paper covered in post-it notes.

      Product roadmaps

      Listen to product managers discuss product roadmaps and learn to create your own.

    • 4 people at a table discussing and arranging post-it notes.

      Prioritising your work

      Learn about some prioritisation techniques product managers use to decide what their teams should work on first.

    • Two people looking at a number of post-it notes on a wall. A larger note has visible text that says 'What you can remember?'

      Summary of the week

      A review of what we learned this week and throughout the course, your final end-of-week review test, and information about certification and accreditation.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of product management
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the role of a product manager within multidisciplinary service teams
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of techniques for decision making and prioritisation
  • Apply transferable product management techniques to your own role
  • Contribute to the product management community by sharing your experience and insights

Who is the course for?

This course is suitable for anyone interested in product management but has not had a chance to explore it further.

It’s a beginner-level course, so it’s not suitable for anyone who has completed the GDS Academy working-level course for product managers, or for existing product managers.

What software or tools do you need?

To take part in this course, you’ll need to be able to access video and audio content (or you can use transcripts).

Who will you learn with?

Thomas Munley

Senior Learning Designer in the Central Digital and Data Office.

Who developed the course?

Government Campus UK

Government Campus UK

Government Campus UK has been established to share selected courses from across the UK Civil Service.

Ways to learn

Buy this course

Subscribe & save

Limited access

Choose the best way to learn for you!

$54/one-off payment

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Free

Fulfill your current learning needDevelop skills to further your careerSample the course materials
Access to this courseticktick

Access expires 5 Mar 2025

Access to 1,000+ coursescrosstickcross
Learn at your own paceticktickcross
Discuss your learning in commentstickticktick
Tests to check your learningticktickcross
Certificate when you're eligiblePrinted and digitalDigital onlycross
Continue & Upgrade

Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$54/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 5 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #productpeople to talk about this course on social media.