Product Management Model
This is a map combining guides, process and the stages of product development
After reading Continuous Discovery Habits by Teresa Torres, I was inspired to synthesise my learning into a unified mental model of product development — a map that captures the interconnected nature of discovery, delivery, and growth. The outcome is a visual framework built in MURAL that charts the five major stages of the product journey: Dream, Map, Make, Sell, and Review.
Each stage represents a distinct mindset and set of practices within the product lifecycle:
- Dream — uncovering customer problems, aspirations, and opportunities.
- Map — shaping strategy, defining outcomes, and designing pathways to value.
- Make — building, testing, and iterating on solutions with real users.
- Sell — launching, positioning, and ensuring adoption.
- Review — measuring impact, learning from results, and feeding insights back into the next cycle.
To ground each stage in evidence-based practice, I identified the authors and books that most influenced my thinking — connecting concepts from thought leaders like Teresa Torres, Marty Cagan, Melissa Perri, and Itamar Gilad. For each phase, I mapped the key processes, artefacts or templates, and stakeholder engagement checkpoints that enable effective product management.
The result is both a reference model and a living system — one that integrates discovery and delivery, highlights flow between stages, and curates the frameworks and tools from across the product discipline that help teams move from insight to impact.
NB: screenshots of sections of the MURAL are captured here but the actual model itself is much larger. Click the view more button above to see the whole map.
As the saying goes, “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” This project has proven to be one of the most useful models I’ve created for navigating the complex, ever-evolving space of product management.
This Mental Map of Product Management has become a touchstone for me - particularly when picking up initiatives mid-flight. It provides a structured way to quickly assess where the work currently sits, what has already been explored, and where the team’s focus needs to shift next. By visually framing the stages of Dream, Map, Make, Sell, and Review, I can more easily identify gaps, dependencies, and opportunities for alignment.
Beyond my own use, this map has also become a valuable reference guide for others looking to deepen their understanding of product management. It serves as both a teaching tool and a conversation starter - helping new product managers, stakeholders, and cross-functional partners see how discovery and delivery connect within a holistic, continuous cycle.
Ultimately, this project reminded me that while frameworks can never capture the full nuance of real-world product work, the right mental model can anchor thinking, accelerate onboarding, and foster shared understanding - and that’s what makes it truly powerful.