Inside the Box: Mastering Internal Product Management

by Ilana J Sprongl

Overview

When we talk about managing products internally, we're exploring a special area of product management that requires unique skills and know-how.

Managing products for internal teams is a whole different game. It is less about market tr...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781038330550
Publisher:	FriesenPress
Publication date:	03/31/2025
Pages:	138
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Ilana Sprongl has 30+ years of experience in the software industry, working at the intersection of product management, delivery, and strategy. She's led large-scale projects across multiple industries, giving her a deep understanding of how internal products drive success in complex organizations. She's been heavily involved in agile transformation and internal tool development, giving her firsthand insight into internal product managers' unique challenges. She's also built change management structures and delivery frameworks that directly improve the adoption and effectiveness of internal products. She understands what works, what doesn't, and how to manage internal tools effectively-and now you can, too!

Editorial Reviews

2025-05-27
A guide to product management for development within an organization.

In this debut business book, Sprongl presents an intermediate-level course in product management aimed at readers who are already familiar with the fundamentals and are focused on overseeing projects that are used within their organizations, like procurement software and financial management tools, rather than those developed for and sold to outside clients. The author outlines key differences between this book’s focus and traditional customer-driven product management. Sprongl then takes readers through the development cycle—identifying internal customers and their needs, developing project objectives, setting priorities, and implementation and evaluation. The author addresses the particular challenges of navigating organizational politics and balancing the often conflicting needs of different departments using the same tools. Each chapter ends with a series of “points to ponder,” and many include “tales of the product manager,” anonymized examples drawn from Sprongl’s experience that illustrate the relevant topics. The writing in these sections provides the book’s most creative prose (the author describes “a piece of software that was more of a labyrinth than a solution, where users would wander aimlessly, grappling with the Minotaur of confusing features and the Sirens of unnecessary buttons”), adding a touch of whimsy to a generally straightforward text. An appendix provides more details about many of the techniques discussed. Sprongl is clearly knowledgeable and skilled at explaining product management, making the book an effective tool for readers that gets its message across clearly and concisely. The book assumes a level of prior knowledge in its readers without then burying them in jargon, making it an enjoyable as well as informative read. Those who are looking to expand their development leadership skills and raise their internal profiles will find this book a worthwhile resource.

A brief but thorough handbook for developing successful products for organizational use.

Kirkus Reviews