Understanding global and local maxima to build better products

Understanding the concepts of local and global maxima can significantly aid product managers in balancing short-term and long-term business impact. Local maxima represent the highest potential within a current focus area, while global maxima signify the greatest overall opportunity across all areas. Product managers often face the challenge of whether to optimize existing projects or pivot towards more impactful opportunities. The article suggests continuously assessing these maxima to ensure that efforts align with the most significant opportunities, recommending a strategic approach to either enhance current solutions or explore new avenues that promise a greater impact. The discussion encourages product managers to occasionally "zoom out" to gain a broader perspective, thereby uncovering potentially overlooked opportunities that could drive substantial business growth. The evolving nature of maxima, especially with advancements like AI, underscores the importance of adapting strategies to remain effective in the dynamic market landscape.