Don’t get me wrong, I am not even hinting at the idea of god-like product managers, nor do I think that the job of a product manager is nearly as complex. However, I was recently thinking about how God, according to the Bible, created everything and decided to rest in seven days. We all know it is a metaphorical story that cannot be taken literally, but I have always been so fascinated by this cycle that I decided to think of it in terms of a product cycle. And, no, people aren’t just extras on top like additional features. I believe it is possible to draw an analogy between the software product management cycle and the seven-day process of creation according to the Bible.

Here’s how we could break down that concept:

1. Day: Ideation (Creation of Light)
   
   In the Bible, the first day of creation involves the creation of light, separating day from night. In the context of software product management, this could relate to the ideation phase, where the basic idea and concept of the product are developed. This step illuminates the “vision” of the product, determining its purpose and the value it will bring to users.
   
2. Day: Architecture (Separation of Water and Sky)
   
   On the second day, God creates the sky, separating the waters above from the waters below. In software development, this could be the architecture or planning phase, where the basic components of the product, infrastructure, and how different parts of the system will communicate with each other are defined.
   
3. Day: Design (Creation of Land and Vegetation)
   
   On the third day, God creates land, seas, and vegetation. This could be compared to the design phase in the software cycle, where the first sketches of the interface, user experience (UX) design, and the structure of the product are created. Here, the “terrain” is prepared for implementation, ensuring that everything is set for successful development.
   
4. Day: Details and Specifications (Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars)
   
   On the fourth day, God creates the sun, moon, and stars, which govern time and illuminate the world. In the software cycle, this would correspond to defining detailed specifications and technical requirements that help organize the project and set the direction for development. These are the “guides” that steer the team during implementation.
   
5. Day: Development and Implementation (Creation of Living Creatures in Water and Birds)
   
   On the fifth day, God creates creatures that live in water and birds that fly. This could be compared to the start of implementation, when the development of the product’s core functionalities begins. In this phase, the software starts to “come to life” through the implementation of the first key features and modules.
   
6. Day: Testing and Finalization (Creation of Animals and Humans)
   On the sixth day, God creates land animals and humans, completing the creation of the world. In software management, this would be the phase of testing, debugging, and finalizing all remaining functionalities. Just as humans were created last as the pinnacle of creation, here the product is finalized and prepared for launch.
   
7. Day: Launch and Maintenance (Day of Rest)
   
   On the seventh day, God rests, blessing and sanctifying this day. In the context of software development, this can represent the launch and maintenance phase of the product. After the product is launched, the team moves into the maintenance phase, where they monitor its performance in the market, fix bugs, and implement minor iterations. It’s also a time for reflection and evaluation of the work done.

This analogy can serve as a useful metaphor for understanding the different stages in the product management cycle, helping the team better visualize their progress and goals throughout the software development process.