The players

Source: Arthritis Foundation. This is not a comment on the condition on the condition of the team. They just had a graphic I liked.

1. Me. I am the product manager = PM. I define new products and their market positioning. I support Sales & Ops on product questions and training. I have 2.5 bosses in Product Management, Program Management, and Operations, and I try to make all of them happy and keep the project moving, so I get assigned special projects. Right now (May 9, 2011) part of my task list includes leading weekly order management reviews and testing/shipping customer samples. The work is quite interesting and my colleagues lifesavers, which keeps me motivated.

My goal is to stop VC and HK from killing each other and work harmoniously to develop a great product! I feel with the lure of salaries and the fact that everyone is an adult, this will happen soon. I am in the US office.

2. Vancouver, BC office = VC = SIP interop engineer responsible for interfacing with the PBX manufacturers

3. Hong Kong office = HK. They're the mothership so there are different resources residing here but most relevant to interop is R&D. Others include:
- The Super VP - Boss man!
- Program Managers = PMGT. My counterparts in HK just trying to keep it together and staggering towards a finish line.
- HK IT. They don't not work well with R&D to troubleshoot networking issues which is a problem when you're developing a network product.
- HK IS (Information Services). Develops applications to manage data. They've been waiting for a spec from someone for a long time. Often gets the short end of the stick but takes it in good humor.
- Technical product manager = TPM. Works out all the user specifications so I don't have to. 


4. US - the organization here is largely Sales and Operations. I deal with the following lovely people:
- The VP of Ops - 2nd boss! I was a bit uncertain about how he can advise me on product development as his passion is operations, but it turns out I am interested in operations too, and his logic serves as a great sanity check for my half-assed product ideas. Plus I have...
- The VP of Product - 3rd boss! I still meet with him every month or so and bitch about all the problems Ops VP can't help with and he helps me with them. I think it's working out guys!
- Supply Chain = SCM. These people work with massive blinding spreadsheets to make sure all our orders are shipped on time.
- Order Management = OM. Also known as inside sales or sales support. 1 person to support 4 salespeople seems to be a unfortunate ratio, especially for new business, but times are tough.
- Marketing Communications = Marcomm. They present my products and messaging is attractive ways. Lately their style has been cramped due to all unbudgeted expenses need to get CEO approval. That's right, the CEO. Doesn't matter if it's a $60 fee to print some postcards. Disproportionate punishment for their previous VP who is no longer here.
- Sales. Needs no explanation. I do vastly prefer the current crop over my last exposure to Sales 3 years ago.