Have you ever heard of the Hedgehog Paradox? I recently read about this paradox. This concept helped me understand Product Management essentials: Depth vs. Breadth.

The Paradox

• Hedgehog: Knows one big thing. Focused, deep, and often an expert in a single area. Imagine a product that does one thing but does it exceptionally well.
• Fox: It knows many things. Agile, curious, and constantly exploring new opportunities. In the product world, think of a platform that offers a wide range of features.

Takeaway: It is essential to understand your approach to navigate your product strategy.

• Depth: The Hedgehog Way
  Google Search has one job: find the best results for your query. And it did that so well that it became the go-to online search platform.

Depth builds credibility. It can make you the go-to solution for a specific problem.

• Breadth: The Fox Way
  Amazon started as an online bookstore, but now, you can buy almost anything, stream videos, and even get groceries.

Breadth offers various features for various needs. It can make you a one-stop shop.

• The Middle Ground
  Apple started with computers but now offers a range of interconnected products.

A balanced approach incorporates the benefits of multiple options. It may provide a favourable outcome.

A Case Study
BlackBerry was a hedgehog that focused on secure communication. It did that exceptionally well but failed to adapt when the market started demanding more features—essentially, when the market turned fox-like with the birth of smartphones.

Being too rigid in your approach can be risky. Adaptability is vital.

Final Thoughts

• No one-size-fits-all.
• At times, you need depth to build credibility and trust. Other times, you need the breadth to meet diverse customer needs.
• The key is to know when to be a fox and when to be a hedgehog.

Are you Team Fox or Team Hedgehog? Or a bit of both?