The Four BBs Strategy Framework
Overview
A strategic allocation framework to categorize product work into four distinct buckets, ensuring balanced roadmap between maintenance, growth, and innovation.
Core principle: If I gave you 100 focus points, how much goes in each bucket?
The Four Buckets
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ RISK │ │ Low ◄─────────────────────────────► High │ │ ┌───────────────────────┬───────────────────────┐ │ │ │ BRILLIANT BASICS │ BIG BETS │ Differen- │ │ │ │ │ tiator │ │ │ Non-negotiable │ Large, risky │ │ │ │ tech debt, hygiene │ initiatives for │ │ │ │ "Brilliant" not │ significant growth │ │ │ │ just "debt" │ │ │ │ ├───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┤ │ │ │ BREAD AND BUTTER │ BREAKING BAD │ Transform- │ │ │ │ │ ational │ │ │ Core features, │ Existential pivots, │ │ │ │ incremental │ moonshots, │ │ │ │ optimizations │ redefine identity │ │ │ └───────────────────────┴───────────────────────┘ │ │ Incremental Foundational │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Example Allocation
Role Brilliant Basics Bread & Butter Big Bets Breaking Bad
Mature Product 20% 50% 25% 5%
Growth Stage 15% 40% 35% 10%
Pivot Mode 10% 20% 30% 40%
Common Mistakes
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Calling foundational work "tech debt" (demotivating)
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Getting stuck in Bread & Butter without investing in Big Bets
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No explicit allocation conversation with stakeholders
Source: Anuj Rathi (Jupiter Money, Swiggy, Flipkart) via Lenny's Podcast