Differences between product, UX, and engineering
Product management, UX design, and engineering form the core triad of product development, each with distinct responsibilities. Product managers focus on the "why" and "what", determining which problems to solve and prioritizing features based on business goals and user needs. They maintain product vision while balancing stakeholder requirements. UX designers concentrate on "how" users interact with the product, creating intuitive experiences through research, wireframes, and usability testing. They champion user perspectives and translate requirements into accessible interfaces. Engineers determine "how" to build the solution, assessing technical feasibility, selecting technologies, and implementing features. They focus on code quality, performance, and architecture. Successful products require seamless collaboration between these roles. Effective teams maintain respect for each discipline's expertise and share ownership of product outcomes.
Pro Tip: When making product decisions, explicitly consider all 3 perspectives: business viability (PM), user desirability (UX), and technical feasibility (Engineering).