FDPM1-EF75 Managing Existing Features

FDPM1-EF75 Managing Existing Features

  • Course description
    • Course Code
      FDPM1-EF75
    • Level of Study
      5.1
    • Program of Study
      Digital Product Management
    • Credits
      7.5
    • Study Plan Coordinator
      Michael John Phillip
Teaching Term(s)
2025 Autumn
2026 Spring
About the Course

As digital product manager, effectively managing existing features is key to sustaining and enhancing product value. This course gives students an overview of ideation methods and creative techniques that stimulate innovation and feature improvement. Students will grasp the importance of a lean/agile mindset, characterised by the iterative process of build, measure, learn, and repeat, which is at the core of continuous product upgrades. Students learn how to analyse, validate and ensure focused outcomes and measure feature enhancements’ success using data-driven methodologies. 

Prototyping is at the very centre of the course, and students are introduced to a toolkit for visualising and refining ideas. Students learn to discern between valuable ideas and distractions, craft a product strategy, and create a roadmap guiding the journey towards true product improvement. 

Product backlog management as a vital tool for organising and prioritising feature development, and scoping for development are also key competencies taught. These techniques enable students to define project boundaries and manage scope creep effectively, to ensure that projects are delivered within time and budget constraints. 

Students in this course gain a deep understanding of digital products' histories, strengths, and weaknesses, enabling them to propose and execute improvements effectively. Additionally, students will learn how to keep cross-functional teams and stakeholders aligned, fostering a culture of continuous improvement within their teams. 

This course builds on the previous courses and skills built earlier in the program. It allows the student to explore and apply ideation, creativity and true management skills to real digital product scenarios and cases. 

Course Learning Outcomes
Knowledge

The candidate: 

  • has knowledge of central principles and methods used for ideation, prototyping and testing, when improving features on existing products. 
  • has knowledge of scoping techniques to define and manage feature development projects. 
  • has knowledge of tools for prioritising ideas when developing a product strategy. 
  • understands the lean/agile mindset, including the principles of build, measure, learn, and repeat. 
  • understands the purpose of a product backlog in the context of digital product management. 
  • understands the importance of identifying and testing underlying assumptions in order to mitigate risk. 
  • understands how to analyse and validate the outcomes of feature enhancements. 
Skills

The candidate: 

  • can apply different ideation methods to generate ideas, concepts and solutions, when managing existing features. 
  • can scope and define project boundaries. 
  • can create prototypes to visualise, test and iterate on ideas. 
  • can assess a product’s strengths and weaknesses, and recommend feature improvement in alignment with the product’s value proposition. 
  • can create a cohesive product roadmap aligned with user needs, and the overarching product and business strategies. 
  • can develop and maintain a product backlog for feature implementation. 
  • can update value propositions and refine product strategies when improving existing features. 
  • can apply tools for identifying and testing underlying assumptions to mitigate risk. 
  • can analyse and validate the outcomes of suggested feature enhancements. 
  • can establish a culture of continuous improvement within a digital product management team. 
  • masters the art of communicating with diverse stakeholders to ensure continuous product improvement. 
  • can carry out data-driven decision-making processes to validate feature enhancements and measure their success. 
General Competence

The candidate: 

  • has developed an iterative approach to the design and development of existing features, based on user feedback. 
  • has developed strong management and decision-making skills. 
  • has developed communication skills to facilitate collaboration and understanding among team members and stakeholders. 
  • has developed strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities when faced with challenges in managing existing features. 
  • understands the ethical principles that apply when improving existing features based on information about users and their needs. 
Learning Activities

Digital Learning Resources
The learning management system (LMS) is the primary learning platform where students access most of their course materials. The content is presented in various formats, such as text, images, models, videos or podcasts. Each course follows a progression plan, designed to lead students through weekly modules at their own pace. Exercises and assignments (individual or in groups) are embedded throughout the courses to support continuous practice and assessment of the learning outcomes.

Campus Resources
In addition to the digital learning resources, campus students participate in physical learning activities led by teachers as part of the overall delivery.

Guidance
Guidance and feedback from teachers support students' learning journeys, and may be provided synchronously or asynchronously, individually or in groups, via text, video or in-person feedback.

Assessments
Form of assessmentGrading scaleGroupingDuration of assessment
Course Assignment
Pass / Fail
1 Week(s)
Reading List

Teaching materials, reading lists, and essential resources will be shared in the learning platform and software user manuals where applicable.