Nothing close enough? Start from a blank matrix → Describe it in one paragraph.
How to use a matrix template.
- 01List your business units or products
Provide product names along with approximate market growth rate and your relative market share compared to the largest competitor.
- 02ChatDiagram places each unit in a quadrant
Products with high share in high-growth markets land in Stars; high share in low-growth in Cash Cows; low share in high-growth in Question Marks; low share in low-growth in Dogs.
- 03Adjust bubble sizes by revenue or profit
Ask ChatDiagram to size each bubble by annual revenue or contribution margin to show relative financial importance.
- 04Add strategic recommendation labels
Annotate each quadrant with invest/hold/harvest/divest recommendations aligned to your business context.
- 05Export for your strategy deck
Download as PNG or SVG and drop into your consulting presentation, business-school case write-up, or board deck.
Questions about matrix templates
What are the four quadrants of the BCG matrix?
Stars (high growth, high share — invest to maintain), Cash Cows (low growth, high share — milk for funds), Question Marks (high growth, low share — decide to invest or cut), and Dogs (low growth, low share — consider divesting).
What is the threshold for 'high' market growth in a BCG matrix?
The original BCG framework used 10% annual market growth as the dividing line. In practice, teams often use industry-specific benchmarks or the company's own growth rate as a baseline.
How do I calculate relative market share for a BCG matrix?
Divide your product's market share by the market share of your largest competitor. A ratio above 1.0 means you lead the market; below 1.0 means you are a follower.
Is the BCG matrix still relevant today?
Yes, with caveats. It is a quick communication tool but oversimplifies competitive dynamics. Complement it with deeper analysis (Porter's Five Forces, customer lifetime value) for real strategic decisions.
Can I use a BCG matrix for a SaaS product portfolio?
Absolutely. Replace revenue bubbles with ARR, use category growth rates, and track relative NPS or retention rate as a proxy for competitive strength where market-share data is hard to obtain.