Framework for software product management in life sciences
Software Product Managers
Irrelevant of the company or market, I see the fundamental software product manager’s (SW PdM) responsibilities as:
Identifying high-impact problems aligned with business goals
Defining solutions
Achieving outcomes
Life Sciences SW PdMs
Life science software PdMs must adapt their core responsibilities to a unique ecosystem where software typically supports a primary product rather than being the primary product itself. I built a framework to help myself navigate the complex life sciences space and adapt my PdM strategies. Understanding a product’s position within the life sciences framework has enabled me (and hopefully other SW PdMs) to elevate software to a strategic and critical enabler of innovation.
Framework
Understanding a software product's position across three key dimensions helps clarify the SW PdM role and responsibilities:
Life sciences verticals (What is a company’s primary product?)
Biopharma == Companies developing therapeutic products (e.g. small molecules, cell/gene therapies, vaccines, etc)
Medical Devices == Companies making hardware products with software components.
Diagnostics == Companies selling tests or platforms to detect/analyze disease indicators.
Digital Health == Companies selling software for healthcare processes or data analysis.
Software flavors
R&D and Discovery == Software for research and early development.
Clinical == Software for trials and patient processes.
Manufacturing and Operations == Software for production and quality control.
Commercial and Analytics == Software for market access and business intelligence.
Regulatory status
Regulated: Software requires formal development processes and extensive documentation.
Non-regulated: Software has faster iterations and fewer formal requirements.
Impact on PdM role
A product’s position in this framework significantly affects a SW PdM’s:
Stakeholders
Development approach (e.g. release cadence)
Documentation (e.g. verification and validation requirements)
