202020sääntöä

202020sääntöä is an informal heuristic discussed in Finnish-language online forums and informal writings. The term combines the numbers 20 and 20 with the Finnish word sääntöä, meaning “rule,” and is used to describe a simple rule of thumb intended to guide planning, estimation, and decision making in projects and policies. There is no formal standard or universally accepted definition, and variations exist in practice.

Definition and variations

Most common formulations of 202020sääntöä propose evaluating a decision along three dimensions tied to the number 20. One widespread variant suggests allocating approximately 20 percent of time, 20 percent of budget, and 20 percent of scope to new or risky elements, with the remaining 60 percent kept for stable, well-understood work. Another variant frames the rule as a cap: avoid pursuing changes that would exceed a 20 percent deviation in any of the core factors (time, cost, or quality) from an agreed baseline. Because it is informal, practitioners adapt the rule to fit their context, organization, or project size.

Origin and usage

The term appears in online discussions and lightweight guides dating from the late 2010s and early 2020s, where it is used as a mnemonic to avoid overcommitment and to keep attention on balance among schedule, resources, and deliverables. It is commonly invoked in software development, project management, and policy planning as a quick check before proceeding with changes.

Reception and criticisms

Supporters view 202020sääntöä as a practical, easy-to-remember reminder to curb scope creep and to maintain discipline. Critics argue that it oversimplifies complex decisions and may lead to rigid thinking or superficial risk assessment if applied without broader analysis.

See also

20-20-20 rule (eye health)

Pareto principle

Risk assessment

Project management heuristics