As constraints and dependencies grow, many problems transition from being solvable by “just trying and planning harder” to becoming so complex that approaches useful for static optimization no longer work.Imagine a company where 10% of the work involves multiple teams, touches different codebases, requires careful coordination, and requires frequent meetings that span organizational boundaries and challenge local incentives. This situation might still be feasible. It'll be painful and may involve some heroics, but there's a path forward.
I love your articles. Statements like, “Heuristic solutions feel almost like cheating” are so validating. Add a dash of “imposter syndrome” and it gets a little lonely out there. Thank you for sharing.
This has been the situation I have been in for the last couple of years. I’m leaving that company now. I do understand how hard it is for managers to avoid this Tetris-attitude, and it’s the job of a product leader to remain firm and clear on priorities and expectations. Like in advertisement, don’t blame the client for demanding to increase the size of his logo. Just tell him a better story.
The National Health System here in the UK is well beyond this threshhold: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nn0vl2e78o . Dave Snowden says he told them to try lots of small local solutions that add up to global improvement, but they didn't listen.
I love your articles. Statements like, “Heuristic solutions feel almost like cheating” are so validating. Add a dash of “imposter syndrome” and it gets a little lonely out there. Thank you for sharing.
You are not alone. There's at least two of us ;-)
This has been the situation I have been in for the last couple of years. I’m leaving that company now. I do understand how hard it is for managers to avoid this Tetris-attitude, and it’s the job of a product leader to remain firm and clear on priorities and expectations. Like in advertisement, don’t blame the client for demanding to increase the size of his logo. Just tell him a better story.
Finally a business case for “less is more.”
The National Health System here in the UK is well beyond this threshhold: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nn0vl2e78o . Dave Snowden says he told them to try lots of small local solutions that add up to global improvement, but they didn't listen.