North Star

Product term: North Star

Category: concept

Definition

An organizational guiding metric or purpose that aligns all work. Not an OKR but a directional constant. Examples: "Every customer succeeds," "Zero accident rate," "Reduce decision latency by 50%." North Star is used by Routing Rules Engine to prioritize work and by Swarm Orchestrator to assemble teams.

Key Points

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between North Star and OKRs?

North Star is directional and constant. OKRs are quarterly targets. Both together: OKRs are the path; North Star is the destination.

How do I choose a North Star?

Something mission-critical that aligns your workforce. "Every customer succeeds" beats "Maximize revenue."

Can I have multiple North Stars?

One primary. Multiple creates confusion and fragmentation.

How does the Router use North Star?

When two routes are equal, the Router chooses the one advancing North Star. Subtle but powerful.

Related Terms

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Routing Rules Engine
The intelligent system that directs INAs, messages, and decisions to the right p...
Purpose Vector
A directional representation of organizational purpose in multi-dimensional spac...
OFI — Organizational Fluidity Index
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