Dear Readers,
Thank you for coming here!
If you are in a room, how do you describe the exact position of a spider hanging from the wall?
With only two dimensions, it is difficult and complex to say the least, if possible at all.
However, with three dimensions (three lines from a corner of the room), it is simple.
Complexity and impossibility under two dimensions is transformed into simplicity under three dimensions.
This is how three dimensions was invented.
Simplicity is the result of having enough dimensions.
Therefore, upgrading our thinking models to incorporate more dimensions will help us understand and solve the complicated problems in life.
This also aligns with Charlie Munger and Scott Page, who advocate the model thinking.
To have more dimensions, we need to both go up and go down.
Going up to discover and incorporate more dimensions, such as going from 2-D to 3-D.
Drawing up the whole picture, such as the value chain, helps.
When we select suppliers, we do not only look at the prices, but also the quality, maintenance frequency and costs, consumable cost, lead time and even payment terms.
When we deal with packaging, we do not only look at how visually appealing to customers, but also the branding image it reflects, the cost, the transportation requirements and even the environmental friendliness.
Going down to break down something into pieces, such as breaking down working hours into number of FTEs and working hours per FTE or breaking down revenue into price and sales volume.
This is critical to isolate root causes and engineer targeted fixes.
This is the basics for consulting, by the way.
We also need to know when to stop.
There is always the practicality.
It means two things:
- It is enough to solve the problem
- It is cost-effective and affordable
Going up to incorporate too many dimensions or going down to break down into too detailed levels is not necessary, wastes resources and often decreases the efficiency in solving the problem.
We do not need 5-D to describe the position of the spider in the room.
We do not need to know the behavior of any specific customer as long as the segment he/she belongs to is adequately represented in the analysis.
Conclusion
Simplicity is the result of having enough dimensions.
To have more dimensions, we need to both go up and go down
Meanwhile, we also need to know when to stop to cater for practicality.
I know it is hard. That is why it is valuable and appreciated!
Till next time!
No comments:
Post a Comment