Why most teams skip the messy middle between strategy and features (and how to fix it)
Original: TBM 8/52: The Data-Informed Product Cycle
John Cutler
June 2, 2025
5 min read
Framework
Intermediate
Summary
This article discusses the data-informed product cycle, which involves translating high-level strategy into models, testing hypotheses, and iterating based on data. It covers key topics like freemium, free trials, usage-based pricing, activation metrics, and product-qualified leads (PQLs).
Who This Is For
Product Managers
Product Analysts
Growth Marketers
Key Takeaways
- Learn how to translate high-level business strategy into actionable product models instead of jumping straight to feature ideas
- Discover how to identify leverage points in your product where small changes can create big impact using data-informed frameworks
- Master the 6-step cycle: Strategy → Models → Measurement → Leverage Points → Experiments → Integration
- Understand why product models (like North Star Framework, customer journey maps, and retention models) are as important as your strategy
- Get practical techniques for measuring what actually matters instead of drowning in executive dashboards full of disconnected metrics
Tools & Technologies
North Star Framework Customer LTV models Journey mapping tools Wardley Maps Driver trees Hypothesis tracking systems
Topics Covered
product-led-growth metrics activation monetization
Ready to dive deeper?
Read Full Article on cutlefish.substack.com
