This is a guest post from Edel Creely, Managing Director of Trilogy Technology, and chair of the Irish Software Associations Product Managment Working Group. Product Management is one of the things that successful exporters do ‘right’, but is too often a gap in Irsh company skillsets.
What makes Apple products from the iPod to the iPhone to the iPad so successful? Great user experience, great attention to detail, great engineering? Certainly. But without great Product Mangement focussing the 49,000 people that work at Apple on ‘Who is going to buy / use this product?’, Apple would risk going the way of HP.
Traditionally, Irish Software and Technology companies haven’t been great at Product Management. Which is a problem, given that we’re depending on their export sales to bring the Irish Economy back to growth.
To try and solve this problem, the Irish Software Association Product Management Group, working with the Dublin Institute of Technology and the Software Skillnet, have put together the Postgraduate Diploma in Product Management – Software and Technology Sectors (pdf). Even better, because of the special grant from Skillnets (under the Future Skills Needs Programme), participants will receive 50% grant aid towards the course fees.
The Diploma launches at Dublin IBEC Offices, 84-86 Lower Baggot Street tomorrow (Thursday Sept 16) at 6pm. The seminar will focus on an overview of the programme contents, as well as the programme’s primary modules, how the diploma will lead to a Masters Degree, practical assignments and assessment, entry requirements and the application process.To book a place at the information seminar email Susan[at]softwareskillnet.com or phone Susan at 086-8067200.
Applications for the Diploma close Friday 23rd September; The number of grant-aided spaces are limited so best to get your application in as soon as possible. Applications and programme brochure are available on the Software Skillnet website.
