June, 2023

All problem solving methods like “the 5 whys” or “root cause analysis” want you to solve problems at the very root.

I don’t think you should.

But think the value you get from digging into the problem, and seeing multiple levels, is to choose at which level to solve the problem.

Because as you go deeper, it’s going to cost more in terms of time, money and energy to solve it. You’ll probably want to rip everything apart if you go to the very bottom. But you are missing the evaluation of tradeoffs.

It’s in the tradeoffs great solutions are found.

Sure, you could build an entire new app from scratch. Or you could just patch up this one bug.

If you can spend one day instead of one month on a solution that is almost as good, that’s a better solution in my mind.

Choosing to solve the problem at a more shallow level is not a cop out. It’s being deliberate about the tradeoffs.

And it feels good to make a quick solution that gives you you large benefits with very small costs.