Product Council in Product Governance

Introduction to Product Council in Product Governance

When you manage products, making the right decisions is key. A Product Council helps by bringing together leaders to guide product strategy and governance. It ensures everyone is aligned and that products meet business goals and customer needs.

In this article, you will learn what a Product Council is, why it matters in product governance, and how it works. We will also explore real examples and tips to set up your own council effectively.

What is a Product Council?

A Product Council is a group of key stakeholders who oversee product decisions and governance. This group usually includes product managers, business leaders, marketing, and sometimes customer representatives. Their job is to review product plans, approve priorities, and ensure products align with company goals.

By having a Product Council, companies create a formal process for product oversight. This helps avoid confusion, reduces risks, and speeds up decision-making.

• Members: Product leaders, executives, marketing, sales, and sometimes customers.
• Purpose: Align product strategy, review progress, and approve key decisions.
• Frequency: Regular meetings, often monthly or quarterly.

Why is a Product Council Important in Product Governance?

Product governance means managing products responsibly, from idea to launch and beyond. A Product Council plays a vital role here by ensuring products follow the right path and meet standards.

Here are key reasons why a Product Council matters:

• Alignment: Keeps all teams on the same page about product goals.
• Accountability: Clarifies who makes decisions and owns outcomes.
• Risk Management: Identifies and addresses potential product risks early.
• Resource Allocation: Helps decide where to invest time and money.
• Customer Focus: Ensures products solve real customer problems.

How Does a Product Council Work?

A Product Council works through structured meetings and clear processes. Here’s how it usually operates:

• Agenda Setting: The product team prepares topics and updates to discuss.
• Review and Feedback: Members review product roadmaps, metrics, and challenges.
• Decision Making: The council approves priorities, budgets, or changes.
• Follow-up: Actions are assigned and tracked until the next meeting.

Tools like Jira, Confluence, or no-code platforms such as Airtable can help manage council workflows. For example, Glide apps can create dashboards for council members to track product status easily.

Examples of Product Councils in Action

Many companies use Product Councils to improve governance. Here are some examples:

• Tech Startup: A startup uses a Product Council with founders and product leads to prioritize features based on customer feedback collected via Typeform and analyzed in Airtable.
• Enterprise Software: An enterprise holds quarterly Product Council meetings to review compliance risks and product updates, using dashboards built in Bubble to visualize data.
• Financial Services: A bank’s Product Council includes risk and legal teams to ensure new products meet regulations before launch.

Steps to Set Up an Effective Product Council

Creating a Product Council requires planning and commitment. Follow these steps:

• Define Purpose: Clarify what the council will oversee and achieve.
• Select Members: Choose diverse stakeholders with decision-making power.
• Set Meeting Cadence: Decide how often to meet and for how long.
• Create Agenda Templates: Standardize topics for efficient meetings.
• Use Collaboration Tools: Leverage platforms like Make or Zapier to automate meeting reminders and follow-ups.
• Communicate Outcomes: Share decisions and action items with wider teams.

Challenges and Best Practices

While Product Councils bring many benefits, they can face challenges such as slow decision-making or unclear roles. Here are best practices to avoid these issues:

• Keep Meetings Focused: Stick to agendas and avoid off-topic discussions.
• Empower Members: Ensure members have authority to make decisions.
• Document Decisions: Record outcomes clearly for transparency.
• Encourage Open Dialogue: Foster a culture where all voices are heard.
• Review Council Effectiveness: Regularly assess and improve the council’s processes.

Conclusion

A Product Council is a powerful tool for strong product governance. It brings people together to align strategy, manage risks, and make better decisions. By setting up a clear structure and following best practices, you can improve your product outcomes and customer satisfaction.

Whether you are a startup or a large company, a Product Council helps you stay organized and focused. Use the examples and steps shared here to build your own council and watch your product governance improve.