The BCG matrix, developed by Bruce Henderson in the 1970s, categorizes business units into four categories: stars, cash cows, question marks, and dogs based on their market share and growth rate. This framework aids in assessing business profiles, cash demands, resource allocation, and strategic objectives for business units, though it has limitations, such as only considering market growth rate and market share. Despite its drawbacks, the BCG matrix is a useful tool for entrepreneurs to identify opportunities and maximize future growth.