Why You Must Earn the Agile Product Manager and Product Owner Certification

Introduction

Over the past few decades, the adoption of Agile development methodologies by product teams has skyrocketed. Agile, born in 2001 when 17 software developers created the Agile Manifesto at a Utah ski lodge, has revolutionized how we develop software. 

Initially, Agile took time to gain traction as it matured into a set of methodologies that could be replicated and optimized. However, just from 2020 to 2021, the percentage of businesses that had adopted Agile at least once, more than doubled, from 37% to 78%. Today, 71% of businesses consistently use Agile, not just for software but also for hardware, physical goods, and more. Agile has expanded across various disciplines, including marketing, education, finance, and human resources. 

Why is Agile so widely used? Its popularity is driven by the ability to deliver incremental value faster and more efficiently. Agile allows organizations to experiment quickly, learn what customers need, and meet those needs swiftly. To dive deeper into Agile’s growth, explore Agile Statistics: How Many Companies Use Agile in 2023?. 

Product Manager or Product Owner?

As Agile has evolved, two distinct roles have emerged: Product Manager and Product Owner. While these roles complement each other, they have different focuses. 

Product Managers prioritize discovery—gaining deep insights into customer needs and market dynamics to create a business model that provides customer value while achieving corporate profit and revenue goals. 

On the other hand, Product Owners focus on delivery—ensuring the development team works on the most critical features and understands customer requirements in detail. 

In many organizations, Product Managers are also expected to serve as Product Owners. Proficiency in both roles increases effectiveness, making certification in Agile crucial. Learn more about the roles in this Product Manager vs. Product Owner comparison: 

Unfortunately, less than 42% of Product Managers have received any form of training, and even fewer understand how to thrive in an Agile environment. 

Why the Certification? 

To address this gap, the Association of International Product Management and Marketing (AIPMM), in partnership with Productside, has developed the Agile Certified Product Manager and Product Owner Credential. 

Achieving this certification demonstrates deep understanding of strategic Product Management and leadership in Agile-driven companies. Unlike traditional Product Owner certifications, this credential covers both Product Management and Product Ownership, setting you apart as a true product leader. 

The table below shows why this course is the best choice for: 

• Product Managers who work closely with Product Owners or act as Product Owners 

• Product Owners who also want to learn Agile Product Management and team leadership skills 

• Product Managers who work in an Agile development environment

How to Earn the Certification

You can earn this certification by taking our Agile for Product Managers and Product Owners two-day or 16 hour course. Afterward, you have one year to study and pass the online certification exam. The course can also be customized and delivered privately to Product Management teams. 

 Alternatively, you can enroll in the Agile Certified Product Manager and Product Owner – Online Course and Exam, a self study online course which allows you to study at your own pace. 

Earning this credential can help you get hired or promoted at many companies who need an agile skillset. Mastery of agile could be one of the most important career moves you’ll ever make.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roger Snyder

Principal Consultant & Trainer

More about Roger

Roger Snyder is a Principal Consultant and Trainer at 280 Group. He has over 25 years of experience in high technology, first working in development, project management, and business development before finding his true passion – product management.

Before joining 280 Group, Roger led product management teams for over 15 years, serving as Sr. Director or Vice President of product management at multiple firms. He was a pivotal contributor to the success and growth of Openwave, increasing revenues in the core infrastructure business to over $100M in 3 years. At Danger, Roger led the PM team to expand the successful Sidekick product line from a single product to multiple products across multiple manufacturers, leading to the acquisition of Danger by Microsoft. At both Savi and Immersion, Roger rebuilt the product management team, hiring top talent to drive better communication and collaboration processes that created product roadmaps that were innovative and predictive.

Roger has been involved in many facets of the mobile industry, from infrastructure products that pioneered accessing the Internet from a mobile phone to complete smartphones, to mobile cloud services, to mobile applications across iOS and Android.
As a consultant and trainer, Roger has worked with companies in various industries, including consumer products, technology, SaaS, mobile, health insurance, and professional services. He has used his experience to help companies improve their product strategy development, product lifecycle process, full product considerations, competitive and market research processes, and roadmap development and evolution.

Roger is a member of the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM), a Certified Product Manager (CPM), and an Agile Certified Product Manager & Product Owner (ACPMPO). He has a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Santa Clara University with concentrations in Leadership and Marketing.