Clear, Simple & Wrong
Product orgs that engage in system thinking will be vulnerable to opinions which contradict the utopian vision.
In a 17th century sermon titled Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, John Donne said "No man is an island."
From a systems perspective, none is truly self-sufficient, and each must rely on others in order to survive and thrive.
On this occasion, emergent models are dependent on humans to be viable.
If a Product Management org is advancing an AI-driven initiative without Data Governance, it may not viable.
“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." - H.L. Mencken
For businesses facing complex product and market challenges, there is a tendency to revert to simplistic thinking, over-weighing sunk costs, hanging onto status, and bargaining without reason.
One approach is to “think in systems” including:
viewing problems and situations from a broader perspective, considering the interconnectedness of various elements within a system
recognizing that changes in one part of a system can have ripple effects on other parts
emphasizing the dynamic nature of systems and how they evolve and adapt over time
The challenges with this approach are:
being vulnerable to other perspectives
acknowledging impacts on other parts
accepting that change is the only constant
If the answer to a business challenge still remains clear and simple, chances are high it’s probably wrong.