Monday
Oct112010
Keeping a Zen garden
Monday, October 11, 2010 at 9:15AM
The scientific method is the foundation for our model of the world. Parsimony, to be careful with resources, is an important part of the system and well worth investigating.
Photo by vvillamon Flickr CC
To systematically observe the world and draw conclusions from the observations makes it possible to construct theories. These theories are central to our tasks as managers, they are the ones creating wealth and productivity through continuos improvement. As we learned in High-School, the method is built on six steps:
My personal experience is that the more people in an organization that apply the scientific method, the more the results improve. In my view, a good improvement project involves all the steps of the scientific method plus three final steps:
To make a plan or theory worthwhile in day-to-day leadership it has to be implemented, so that you can learn more. To document the method is, since the advent of ISO 9000, an obligatory part of any company change. Finally, to replicate the results, to use the improved method in as many places as possible, is common sense and a way of saving resources.
One of the principles behind the scientific method is the one about parsimony - when choosing between two possible solutions, to go for the simplest one. I know that throughout history, new data has a tendency to support the more complicated theories and that the principle of parsimony sometimes leads you astray, but it is very practical. It is easier to communicate.
If you have two possible ways to go and really no way of knowing which one is better until further data is collected, I suggest the simpler one, and I'm not alone in that recommendation.
Dr. Edward de Bono, writes at the de bono blog that:
To simplify is the Zen of Management. To keep the system uncluttered and in focus. To keep a Zen garden is hard work, the lines in the gravel does not just happen, they take skill and planning but the effect makes it possible to think, to see and to improve.
My key thought is that if you, as a leader, take on the role of a "zen gardener", you will contribute greatly to your organization's success. To make the processes visible and constantly improved, to choose simplicity and frugality, to involve all - both participants and bystanders - this is my recipe for success as a leader.
Photo by vvillamon Flickr CCScientific method and improvement projects
To systematically observe the world and draw conclusions from the observations makes it possible to construct theories. These theories are central to our tasks as managers, they are the ones creating wealth and productivity through continuos improvement. As we learned in High-School, the method is built on six steps:
- Ask a Question
- Do Background Research
- Construct a Hypothesis
- Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
- Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
- Communicate Your Results
My personal experience is that the more people in an organization that apply the scientific method, the more the results improve. In my view, a good improvement project involves all the steps of the scientific method plus three final steps:
- Implement Your Conclusion
- Document the New Method
- Replicate the Method wherever possible
To make a plan or theory worthwhile in day-to-day leadership it has to be implemented, so that you can learn more. To document the method is, since the advent of ISO 9000, an obligatory part of any company change. Finally, to replicate the results, to use the improved method in as many places as possible, is common sense and a way of saving resources.
To use the least possible
One of the principles behind the scientific method is the one about parsimony - when choosing between two possible solutions, to go for the simplest one. I know that throughout history, new data has a tendency to support the more complicated theories and that the principle of parsimony sometimes leads you astray, but it is very practical. It is easier to communicate.
If you have two possible ways to go and really no way of knowing which one is better until further data is collected, I suggest the simpler one, and I'm not alone in that recommendation.
Simplify
Dr. Edward de Bono, writes at the de bono blog that:
“Simplicity does not just happen. The evolutionary trend is the other way. Things get even more complex as we keep adding on and seeking to deliver more. Simplicity needs a determined effort. There has to be the will to make things simpler.”
To simplify is the Zen of Management. To keep the system uncluttered and in focus. To keep a Zen garden is hard work, the lines in the gravel does not just happen, they take skill and planning but the effect makes it possible to think, to see and to improve.
My key thought is that if you, as a leader, take on the role of a "zen gardener", you will contribute greatly to your organization's success. To make the processes visible and constantly improved, to choose simplicity and frugality, to involve all - both participants and bystanders - this is my recipe for success as a leader.
Reader Comments (5)
Hi again. We seem to be very much in sync... :-)
This is a topic very close to my own heart. I completely agree with de Bono's quote that simplicity requires a concentrated effort.
In my experience, one of the best ways to address complexity is through problem decomposition (this is a core approach in agile methods). By decomposing a complex problem in it's fundamental parts, it makes the problem much more addressable (I find the 5 Why's technique is very useful here).
Here's a more complete post I wrote on Occam's Razor (http://thousandinsights.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/finding-simplicity/).
Thanks Jose and yes, we seem to be very much in sync - which is great.
Just read your blog, congratulations on a great text.
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