altitude-horizon-framework

Defines the two-axis mental model that distinguishes Director-level thinking from PM thinking: Altitude (how wide you zoom out) and Horizon (how far ahead you look). Use this to understand what actually changes in the transition, diagnose which transition zone is creating friction, and apply the Cascading Context Map when organizational direction is vague or absent.

This is not a seniority hierarchy. A PM operating at the right altitude for their role is doing excellent work. A Director operating at PM altitude is leaving their actual job undone.

| Dimension | PM (Waiter) | Director (Restaurant Operator) |

Das mentale Kernmodell für den Übergang vom PM zum Direktor: Höhe (Umfang) und Horizont (Zeit), die Schicht vom Kellner zum Bediener, vier Übergangszonen, benannte Fehlermodi und die kaskadierende Kontextkarte. Quelle: deanpeters/product-manager-skills.