Marty Cagan, Author at Silicon Valley Product Group · Marty Cagan
articleprinciplePredictability vs Outcomes
12 October 2026Product
I was first taught about the importance of outcome over output way back when I was an engineer getting coached to become a tech lead, and I was explicitly told that it was no longer enough to just build and ship, I had to make sure the solution actually solves the underlying problem. I have... The post Predictability vs Outcomes appeared first on Silicon Valley Product Group.
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Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Predictable delivery is not the same as product success. Hold teams accountable for solving a clearly defined customer or business problem, not merely completing and shipping planned work.
Why it matters
A reliable roadmap can still produce little value if the underlying problem remains unsolved. Pair delivery discipline with explicit outcome measures so predictability supports impact rather than becoming the goal.
Relevant guides
Put it to work
For the next planned release, ask: What observable customer or business outcome should change, how will we measure it, and what will we do if shipping does not produce that change?