Product Management Framework Setup for Product Team

Role: Product Operations Lead
Objective: To enable streamlined product management, increase project visibility, and enhance cross-functional alignment for a high-performing product team.

In this leadership role, I was brought in to establish an integrated, scalable product management framework in Notion for a product team. Working closely with C-level executives and VPs, I collaborated with Product Managers, Engineering leads, and Design heads to develop a customized platform that optimized workflow, tracked development cycles, and drove alignment across all functions involved in the product lifecycle.

Scope and High-Level Strategy

To begin, I conducted a comprehensive assessment with senior stakeholders, including the VP of Product, Engineering Leads, and key Product Managers. Through workshops and executive discussions, we identified strategic pain points and aligned on high-priority objectives. This assessment formed the foundation of a structured roadmap that outlined essential components such as sprint planning, backlog prioritization, and cross-functional task tracking to support the team’s Agile approach and CI/CD practices.

Framework Design and Key Component

I designed a multi-layered Notion workspace with capabilities that ensured high visibility and organization at every phase of the product lifecycle:

• Executive Overview Dashboard: A high-level view of project statuses and key metrics for quick updates, tailored for C-suite executives and VPs to monitor progress in real time.

• Product Backlog and Sprint Board: A central hub for tracking tasks across Agile sprints, allowing Product Managers to prioritize backlogs, assign tasks, and monitor progress toward sprint goals.

• Discovery and Strategy Hub: Dedicated space for Product Managers and stakeholders to document strategic insights, roadmaps, and competitive analyses, driving informed decision-making.

• Templates and Process Checklists: Standardized templates for sprint retrospectives, product launch checklists, and onboarding processes, ensuring consistency and efficiency across sprints and releases.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Team Enablement

With the workspace framework established, I conducted live onboarding sessions with all team members, including Product Managers, Engineers, and UX Designers, to ensure a smooth transition. I facilitated interactive training focused on Agile workflows, sprint planning, and the effective use of backlog management tools within Notion. Documentation was also provided to streamline onboarding for new team members.

Automation and CI/CD Enhancements

To further enhance productivity, I introduced automation within the Notion platform to minimize manual effort and ensure timely task updates:

• Automated Notifications: Configured alerts for task status updates, sprint planning deadlines, and backlog changes, enabling the team to stay on track with minimal administrative work.

• CI/CD Integration: Set up automated processes to align Notion’s task and release boards with the CI/CD pipeline, allowing Product Managers and Engineering Leads to synchronize development cycles with deployment schedules.

These automation enhancements reduced task duplication, ensured alignment with Agile sprints, and kept the team focused on high-impact activities.

Results and Impact

The implementation of this product management framework provided substantial benefits across the team:

• Enhanced Visibility for Leadership: Executive-level stakeholders, including C-level and VPs, gained real-time insights into project progress, risks, and resource needs.

• Increased Efficiency in Product Management: Product Managers and cross-functional teams experienced improved productivity due to automated workflows and streamlined sprint planning.

• Scalable System Architecture: The modular design of the Notion workspace allowed the team to adapt as they onboarded new projects, teams, and functionalities, supporting future growth and evolving needs.

Client Feedback:
"Ishan has been a pleasure to work with. He was very patient and also generous with information and advice. He was always attentive, and available to meet with or even answer a quick question via message. His knowledge and qualifications with notion are impressive. It would've taken us double the time to do it on our own."
— Vice President, Product Team, Thomas Vartanian

This experience demonstrates my capability to support Product Managers by creating systems that enable Agile workflows, improve executive oversight, and align product strategy with execution. I look forward to applying this strategic approach to further enhance cross-functional product operations and support high-level business goals.