Divergent Working Backwards (3 PR/FAQs)
by Anuj Rathi • Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Jupiter Money
Former SVP of Revenue and Growth at Swiggy, VP of Product at Snapdeal, Senior PM at Walmart Labs, and first Product Manager at Flipkart.
🎙️ Episode Context
Anuj Rathi discusses the evolution of product management in India, the importance of 'full-stack' product thinking, and how to operationalize the 'Working Backwards' process. He shares specific frameworks for understanding user psychology, prioritizing product roadmaps, and making strategic high-stakes decisions.
Problem It Solves
Prevents teams from falling in love with their first idea and gives leadership a real choice rather than a 'yes/no' on a single plan.
Framework Overview
An enhancement of Amazon's 'Working Backwards' process. Instead of writing one Press Release (PR), the team writes three distinct, divergent PRs to explore different strategic directions before converging on one.
⚡ Step-by-Step Framework
Power of Three: Always explore three radically different solutions to a problem.
Show Don't Tell: Write the full PR/FAQ including compliance, legal, and operational details for each version.
Divergence before Convergence: Prevents local maxima by forcing the team to consider alternative realities.
Disagree and Commit: Once the leadership selects one of the three paths, the team commits fully.
Power of Three: Always explore three radically different solutions to a problem.
Show Don't Tell: Write the full PR/FAQ including compliance, legal, and operational details for each version.
Divergence before Convergence: Prevents local maxima by forcing the team to consider alternative realities.
Disagree and Commit: Once the leadership selects one of the three paths, the team commits fully.
When to Use
When defining a new product line, a major feature launch, or a strategic pivot.
Common Mistakes
Writing three variations that are only slightly different (incremental) rather than divergent (strategic alternatives).
Real World Example
Designing a membership program: Option A (2 tiers), Option B (Point-based system), Option C (Specific segment focus).
I actually ask my teams to write three press releases, alternative and divergent... That helps the leadership choose.
— Anuj Rathi