Thanks for the attention Casper! Sure, maybe at the early stages of ideation we are less subject to risk and are looking divergently to encapsulate as many ideas as possible, however, when we start to converge, we are trying to minimize risks and invest into solutions that maximize returns! Therefore, looking at it from an objective process, if the goal is to minimize risks and maximize returns, the initial divergent thinking stage is also to minimize risks of finding or ideating solutions that could potentially minimize value, usability, and feasibility risks! So I even see that initial stage as a risk mitigation process...if that makes sense!

I also understand what you are saying. I believe that we are potentially looking at our definitions through two different lenses: 1) I, from a financial or business goal point of view across the funnel, and I think that's how senior product people or executive should view product management at the end of the day, and 2) You, from a more hedonic human-centric interaction which requires building teams and sustaining them. In any case, we're not too apart. It's just different roles, will probably requires different lenses or worldviews. Again, if that makes sense!