Three Divergent Directions

Always explore three meaningfully different options before committing to one

Anuj Rathi
The full-stack PM | Anuj Rathi (Swiggy, Jupiter Money, Flipkart)

Three Divergent Directions

"I really truly believe in the power of three. I actually ask my teams to write three press releases, alternative and divergent." - Anuj Rathi

What It Is

Three Divergent Directions is a decision-making practice that requires teams to develop three meaningfully different approaches before choosing one. Not variations on a theme, but genuinely divergent options that explore different strategic paths.

This framework enhances the Working Backwards process (PR FAQs) by preventing premature convergence on a single solution. It creates better decisions through more thorough exploration and builds stronger organizational alignment by showing stakeholders that their input was genuinely considered.

How It Works

The Power of Three

When presenting only one option, two problems emerge:

  1. Stakeholders feel unheard: During discovery, you gathered input from many people. If you only show one roadmap, anyone whose suggestion didn't make the cut feels dismissed—even if their idea was seriously considered.

  2. Leadership can't evaluate: Without alternatives, executives can't understand trade-offs. They're forced to either accept your recommendation blindly or micromanage the details.

What "Divergent" Means

Options should differ on fundamental dimensions, not surface features:

  • Different target segments
  • Different pricing strategies
  • Different technical approaches
  • Different timeline/scope trade-offs
  • Different risk profiles

Good Example (membership program):

  1. Two-tier membership with premium benefits
  2. Three-tier membership with loyalty points
  3. Dynamic pricing without membership

Bad Example:

  1. Blue membership with $9.99/month
  2. Blue membership with $10.99/month
  3. Blue membership with annual billing

The Recommendation Element

Having three options doesn't mean abdication:

  • You must recommend one option
  • Explain why it's best given company strategy, market conditions, and capabilities
  • The other two show your work and create context for your recommendation
  • Leadership can combine elements or disagree with full context

How to Apply It

  1. Develop three complete PR FAQs

    • Each should be fully thought through
    • Not strawmen—each should be viable
    • Include customer quotes, business manager quotes, FAQs for each

  2. Make options address different stakeholder concerns

    • Option A might prioritize the engineering concern
    • Option B might prioritize the business concern
    • Option C might prioritize the customer concern

  3. Use it to build alliances and surface blockers

    • Show marketing: "Which of these can you support?"
    • Show engineering: "Which is feasible by this date?"
    • Show business owners: "Which aligns with your goals?"

  4. Present with clear recommendation

    • "Here are three approaches. I recommend Option B because..."
    • "Option A addresses X concern but creates Y problem"
    • "Option C was rejected because Z"

  5. Enable "disagree and commit"

    • Once a direction is chosen, everyone commits
    • The exploration process builds legitimacy for the final decision

When to Use It

  • Strategic planning and roadmap decisions
  • Product launches and go-to-market planning
  • Any PR FAQ / Working Backwards exercise
  • When presenting to CXOs or leadership
  • When you anticipate pushback or competing perspectives
  • Any decision that will require cross-team commitment

Source

  • Guest: Anuj Rathi
  • Episode: "The full-stack PM | Anuj Rathi (Swiggy, Jupiter Money, Flipkart)"
  • Key Discussion: (00:27:07) - The power of three in decision-making
  • YouTube: Watch on YouTube

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