Money Is the Rearview Mirror: Why You Should Not Manage a Product by Financial Metrics

▤ Summary

This article argues that financial metrics alone are a poor way to manage a product. It contrasts LTV and P&L thinking with product health frameworks such as Balanced Scorecard, HEART, and North Star metrics. The piece emphasizes that software teams should track usage, retention, engagement, and customer outcomes instead of over-optimizing for revenue signals. It uses examples from SaaS, eBay, Google, Uber, and Spotify to show how product management needs a broader measurement system.

▦ Linked Companies