"Early in my career, I was introduced to this collaborative framework. It's a model where product, design, and engineering break down silos and work closely together to align on goals. This level of transparency helps teams build towards a shared vision by incorporating each other's perspectives throughout the development process. The result is increased efficiency and more well-rounded solutions overall."
"Today, however, the product space is evolving. With the rise of AI, advanced collaboration tools, and a growing adoption of cross-disciplinary skills, the traditional three-in-a-box framework is being disrupted by a new emerging approach: the full-stack product lead. This is a product expert who can manage research, design, prototyping, and even lightweight coding, all within a single role. Thanks to advancements in technology and tools, this shift is reshaping how teams operate, how products are shipped, and how careers in product are defined."
"This framework illustrates how someone can build deep expertise in one area and pair it with a broad understanding of adjacent disciplines. For example, a product manager with T-shaped skills might have deep expertise in data-driven product strategy, including analyzing metrics, defining KPIs, and prioritizing roadmap initiatives. Their horizontal skills could include market analysis, pricing strategy, or financial modeling. Notice how their skills in adjacent disciplines are closely related to their core discipline as a PM."
The product development model is shifting from a three-in-a-box collaboration of product, design, and engineering toward full-stack product leads who combine research, design, prototyping, and lightweight coding. Cross-role skill adoption and T-shaped skill profiles enable individuals to apply deep domain expertise alongside horizontal competencies in adjacent disciplines. Advances in AI and collaboration tools accelerate this shift by reducing handoffs and enabling single-role execution across multiple stages of development. The change increases transparency, speeds decision-making, and can produce more integrated, efficient solutions while reshaping team structures and career paths for product professionals.
Read at LogRocket Blog
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