Ken Wright
Product Manager
HRPyramid Sunset
“The best idea a product manager can implement never originates from the product manager. It always originates from our clients.”
Ken Wright, Product Manager, has been with PrismHR for 5 years. Initially, he started in QA for the PrismHR core software (Compliance, Tax, Payroll, HR, Reports) features.
After spending 2 years in QA, he transitioned into product management as a Business Analyst for the compliance team, focusing on regulatory and tax processing. Shortly after becoming a BA, he was moved into a Product Manager role and is currently leading the HRP sunset project.
What was your background before coming to PrismHR?
I am a veteran and spent 4 years in the Marine Corps. After the Marines, I worked for an HR/Payroll Software company where I started out performing data entry on an onboarding platform which evolved into a hybrid role which consisted of support, QA, and product management roles. This experience gave me a broad perspective on technology and how to deliver software. These roles were also instrumental in helping me understand the day-to-day operations in the PEO industry.
What interested you in PrismHR Product Management?
I was interested in product management because I enjoy working with customers, understanding their pain points, and finding solutions to ease those pain points while increasing their operational efficiency. I love puzzles and being in product management, every day you are working on complicated puzzles that require looking at problems from a multitude of angles to ensure the best solution. Very seldom will an issue be resolved with one angle of attack.
What is your favorite part of being a Product Manager at PrismHR?
My favorite part is working with our customers, brainstorming ideas, and bringing those ideas to fruition in subsequent releases. I strive to stay close to our customers and have constant 2-way communication to ensure we are delivering the best solutions possible. I often ask our customers to consider me an extension of their organization.
What projects are you currently working on that you would like to share with our customers?
Right now, we are putting the finishing touches on the new historical check import process which allows the customer to take payroll data from a 3rd party system and import it into Prism. There was nothing good about the old process, so we have completely revamped this process into a wizard with the hopes of reducing errors and increasing operational efficiency.
The team and I are also developing Tools to ease the change management process from HRP to Prism, to provide more visibility, and self-service options to allow easier planning as it relates to the HRP Sunset. I am also very focused on the communication and change management aspects involved in the sunset, so everyone, internal and external, understands the plan from both a business and technical standpoint.
Given the complexity of the HRP system, we want to assure there are no surprises when we sunset a feature. I never forget that the key to a successful sunset is to ensure our customers have enough time and the tools to manage the necessary changes.
Tell us about yourself outside of work
I have been married for 10 years and have 2 children, a daughter 13 and a son 9. We have a busy household that also includes a chocolate lab and hermit crab.
My daughter is a typical teenager who loves social media and shopping. My son enjoys anything outdoors but especially loves fishing and baseball.
On the weekend you will find me with my family fishing, hunting, and coaching my son’s travel baseball team. You are also likely to see me at the mall shopping with my daughter!