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Software and Online Services for PMs

UI Mockups & Wire-framing Tools

OK, there's some debate as to whether Product Managers should be using these tools, since they are really the territory of a User Experience designer, specifically interaction design.

The Cranky Product Manager's view is that mockups can be a powerful tool for eliciting customer requirements and getting market feedback. Plus, sometimes - especially at startups - you gotta be willing to roll up your sleeves and do some things that are not necessarily on your sweet spot.

Balsamiq Mockups - www.balsamiq.com. Installed software, less than $100. Produces mockups that have a "hand-drawn," black and white look to them - the intent is to keep customers and others for mistaking the mockups for working product or final UI. And it works. Keeps PMs focused on the right stuff and not effing around with fonts, etc. They have legendary customer service.

Mockingbird - www.gomockingbird.com. A SaaS wireframing / mockup tool. Has less of a "hand-drawn" appearance than Balsamiq.

Flairbuilder - www.flairbuilder.com. The Cranky Product Manager hasn't used this one, but one of her readers raves about it.

Requirements Management

One day, the Cranky Product Manager will write some more about these, but for now she's just going to list some. 

{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

1 David Gelperin October 27, 2011 at 11:04 AM

In your spare time (as a mother you have none), please take a look at LiteRM. It is a powerful, easy-to-use (and inexpensive) requirements manager that can record any aspect of a product that you care about.

Thanks

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