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
code
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ 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
- •Calling foundational work "tech debt" (demotivating)
- •Getting stuck in Bread & Butter without investing in Big Bets
- •No explicit allocation conversation with stakeholders
Source: Anuj Rathi (Jupiter Money, Swiggy, Flipkart) via Lenny's Podcast