North Star Metric Tree (Input Metric Cascade)
Use it when you need to break a single north star metric into actionable input metrics to align your team and drive focused growth.
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What is it?
The North Star Metric Tree, also known as the Input Metric Cascade, is a hierarchical model that translates your one "true north" growth metric into a layered set of input and output metrics.
At its core, the framework solves the biggest blind spot in growth strategy: teams obsess over a single high-level metric without clear ownership or levers to pull. You start by defining your North Star – the one metric that best captures customer value (e.g., Weekly Active Users, Net Revenue Retention). From there, you map downstream output metrics that directly move that needle and upstream input metrics that teams can own and experiment on.
This alignment transforms vague KPI targets into a roadmap of tests and investments, ensuring every engineer, marketer, and product manager knows exactly how their work contributes to sustainable momentum.
Why it matters?
When you collapse your entire growth engine into a single North Star without context, you kill focus and stall cross-team collaboration. The Metric Tree forces clarity: every input is a testable hypothesis, every output is a shared goal, and your North Star becomes a living compass. This structure turbocharges retention, pinpoints acquisition levers, and turns random experiments into a coherent growth roadmap.
How it works
Growth co-pilot turns your toughest product questions into clear, data-backed recommendations you can act on immediately.
1
Define Your North Star Metric
Pinpoint the one metric that best reflects core product value and aligns with long-term company goals. Keep it simple and customer-centric.
2
Identify Output Metrics
List 3–5 metrics that have a direct, causal impact on your North Star. For example, if your North Star is DAU, outputs might include "New Sign-ups" and "Feature X Engagement."
3
Break Into Input Metrics
For each output, drill down to 2–3 leading indicators you can test on a daily or weekly cadence. Think activation rates, email opens, or trial conversions.
4
Validate Causality
Use historical data and A/B tests to confirm that movements in each input reliably shift its parent output and, ultimately, the North Star.
5
Assign Ownership and Cadence
Tie every metric to a cross-functional owner and set regular review cycles. This creates clear accountability and accelerates decision-making.
6
Iterate and Optimize
Continuously refine metrics based on test learnings. Drop underperforming inputs, add new levers, and celebrate small wins to fuel momentum.
Frequently asked questions
Growth co-pilot turns your toughest product questions into clear, data-backed recommendations you can act on immediately.
You've mapped your North Star Metric Tree, now use the CrackGrowth Scorecard to diagnose which input metrics are underperforming and generate data-driven experiments that move the needle.