Its very very hard to find a good/great program/product manager.
I've only known one in my 10 years as a programmer. Some tests to use to figure out if someone is a good product guy:
1. Ask them if you can meet 3 users who are willing to use your product. If he can get you to meet 3 - you've probably got a good product guy.
2. Ask them how people make money now that your product doesn't exist. If they say they've actually tried to do this without your product and show you how they failed, they are probably pretty good.
3. If his documentation that he shares with you is a single prioritized list of features with measures/time built in so he can re-prioritize the list then he's probably a good product guy.
Essentially he will take complete and utter responsibility for the product from upper management.
I've only known one in my 10 years as a programmer. Some tests to use to figure out if someone is a good product guy:
1. Ask them if you can meet 3 users who are willing to use your product. If he can get you to meet 3 - you've probably got a good product guy.
2. Ask them how people make money now that your product doesn't exist. If they say they've actually tried to do this without your product and show you how they failed, they are probably pretty good.
3. If his documentation that he shares with you is a single prioritized list of features with measures/time built in so he can re-prioritize the list then he's probably a good product guy.
Essentially he will take complete and utter responsibility for the product from upper management.
Very rare to find.