DISQUS

ChangeForge: How To Eat The Elephant: Insight Into How A Complex Problem Can Be Simple.

  • PM Hut · 1 year ago
    I think the 2nd rule "Maintain an actionable list of to-do’s." says it all. Just one action list, immediately accessible, and easily updatable.
  • ChangeForge | Ken Stewart · 1 year ago
    PM Hut, I completely agree. That one rule has made the biggest difference in my life. While you always keep your eye on the horizon, you are effective only when you can execute and avoid walls that prevent you from achieving your goals.
  • Strong One · 1 year ago
    Actionable list = a list that you actually can complete.
    So many times we make that 'list' and it never gets done due to the overwhelming size of to do's.
    I like the K.I.S.S. method.
    Keep
    It
    Simple
    Stupid.

    :)
    Great post.
  • kallan · 1 year ago
    Kia ora Ken!

    I guess it all depends on how your brain works. Now there's a project if ever there was one :-)
    Yes, lists aren't everyone's cup of tea. I'm not a 'list' person either, but in studying Science as a discipline I had to get my head round the 'list culture'. Then, having to teach it, I became quite sold on the idea.

    Your observation is correct. Lists are useful for comparing, if only to compare their lengths! They also permit one to spot patterns and duplicates, particularly duplicates in patterns or process.

    I think this is where many projects can get very complex. Not that they are necessarily as complex as they seem. When loops and duplicate loops and patterns become part of the process or structure of a project, redundancy makes things overly complex.

    Studying complexity systems has taught me that they're recursively elaborate. This is one of the features that make a complexity system complex, compared to a complicated system that is just plain complicated.

    Most projects are complicated. If they get complex, it's a sure sign that there's some redundancy somewhere that's perhaps not needed. Lists used in comparison can help identify the redundancies and unnecessary loops.

    Ka kite
    from Middle-earth
  • ChangeForge | Ken Stewart · 1 year ago
    Wow, I think all of that talk on complex and complexity have thoroughly perplexed me ;-)
  • kallan · 1 year ago
    Oops! Sorry Ken.

    Here's some input.

    Catchya later