In the context of the Lean Startup methodology, how do boundary conditions influence the decision to pivot, and what metrics should be critically evaluated before making this decision?

Boundary conditions are the limits or assumptions that define whether a product can succeed, such as the number of users needed to sustain the business or the technical feasibility of a feature. If data shows those limits are being crossed—like a required user base never growing or a cost threshold being exceeded—then the startup must consider pivoting to stay within those limits. Key metrics to scrutinize include customer acquisition cost, churn rate, monthly recurring revenue, and product usage frequency, because they reveal whether the core assumptions hold. For example, if a mobile game’s churn rate jumps to 40 % after the first month, the boundary condition of user retention is violated, prompting a pivot to a freemium model. By rigorously checking these metrics, the team can decide whether to adjust the product or abandon the current direction.