At first glance, it might be hard to draw parallels between modern product management and German reunification. But I’m a product manager with an International Relations background, so that’s what you’ll get.
Otto von Bismarck, the diplomatic mastermind behind the reunification feat, is famously credited with the quote Politics is the art of the possible. It reflects his pragmatic approach to governing and his understanding that compromise is the key to success. He’s one of the most influential figures of European history not because he wanted to change the world, but because he focused on achieving practical and attainable goals in a complex environment; not because he fought against constraints, but because he
Perhaps you can already see where this is going. The world of tech is full of idealistic aspirations, particularly in moments of disruption such as the one we’re experiencing with AI and Large Language Models. But at the end of the day, as we sit back and marvel at technological progress, product management too is the art of the possible. The reason we exist as professionals is because there is a need to establish a complex balance between existing resources, market conditions and customer needs. It’s not a