Applying the 80/20 Rule

A couple of weeks ago, just before the floodwaters swept through Kathmandu I attended a Project Managers’ meet a gathering full of fresh faces, sharp minds, and enthusiastic personalities. There was an electric energy in the room, and I felt right at home surrounded by people who were deeply passionate about their work. During the presentations, a term popped up that instantly grabbed my attention: the Pareto Principle. For me, it was even more intriguing than the latest buzz around AI. I realized that while the term was new to me, the practice wasn’t. For as long as I’ve been in project management, I’ve unconsciously been applying its wisdom without knowing the name. (Please forgive my poor memory if I have forgotten the term if it was in the syllabus in the college) The idea is both simple and powerful:

80% of the outcomes often come from just 20% of the causes.

Imagine that just a small portion of your effort can drive the majority of your results. As the conversation flowed, more examples of the 80/20 rule surfaced flashing one “aha” moment after another. I felt reassured that I was in the right place to grow my understanding of such transformative ideas. So, let’s break down this principle in detail, structure, and flow. If you’re already familiar with it, feel free to add any insights I may have missed, or validate what follows every perspective is welcome.

What punched me hard that day was realizing how the 80/20 rule applies in software development. This principle suggests that 80% of results often come from just 20% of the effort. In other words, a small amount of focused work can drive the majority of our outcomes, while many other tasks don’t contribute as much. We usually prioritize tasks based on trends, market analysis, or the business value they add. But this insight was eye-opening, and now, I’ll definitely start thinking a bit differently.

Let’s move on to the discussion sparked by some young, brilliant minds. They pointed out that about 80% of software issues often engineer from just 20% of the code.

This insight helped me understand the value of prioritizing bug-fixing efforts by first identifying and focusing on the most problematic areas.

The host added that around 80% of users typically use only 20% of a product’s features.

This made me realize how important it is for product owners and managers to focus on those core features that matter most, rather than spreading teams thin across less impactful functions.

Honestly, I was learning so much from these discussions! The Pareto Principle was just a small part of the meetup, but it opened my eyes in a big way. Another attendee added that 20% of the code often drives 80% of the functionality. Developers take note: by focusing on the critical parts of the code that bring the most value to users, you don’t need to perfect every line. Instead, put your energy into what matters most. Isn’t that amazing?

I remember that whenever I deploy new features or bug fixes to production, the same files usually need updating. Only occasionally I do encounter new files to move to production. This reminded me of the idea that 80% of bugs come from just 20% of the code.

While I’m not entirely sure I was able to relate with this I am sure it certainly encourages the team to zero in on the specific parts of the code that are prone to issues. By focusing on fixing the most problematic 20%, we can achieve a lot more. It's as simple as that!

I?must say, there are many other areas that could benefit from this principle, far beyond what I can cover here. However, I’ve highlighted the key takeaways to capture its most important insights.

Incorporating the 80/20 rule into software development is a game-changer, helping teams prioritize efforts on high-impact areas of the codebase. By identifying and addressing the 20% of the code responsible for most issues, developers can enhance stability and efficiency, ultimately saving valuable time and resources. This focus allows product owners and managers to concentrate on features that users actually rely on, driving better user satisfaction and faster development cycles. Embracing this approach can lead to a more streamlined workflow and a product that delivers real value with less effort.