General
north star
What does north star mean?
The overarching objective or key metric that keeps a team aligned and focused.
"Weekly active users is our north star metric."
Origin
Navigation metaphor (Polaris); popularised in product management.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'north star' in business?
It's the single guiding goal or key metric that keeps a team aligned and focused on what matters most.
How is it used?
Often as 'north star metric', e.g. 'Our north star is monthly active users.'
Where does the term come from?
It's a navigation metaphor after Polaris, the North Star, popularised in product management.
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