On the level?

This is a quote attributed to Einstein:

The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same
level of thinking we were at when we created them.

I was thinking this morning that the practical action attached to this understanding is the Toyota "seven Whys" problem solving approach. Answering the "Why" questions force you either up or down a level.

Also W. Edwards Demming's red bead game. When an employee looks like they're under-performing or over-performing, the chances are that their performance has got more to do with the system than their innate skills.

I'm surprised that this isn't offered more often as a problem-solving strategy: "When presented with a problem, before you do anything else, try to identify what level you're on, then try to up-level (get more abstract) and also down-level (get more precise, more detailed, more specific)."

For further information, contact Mark@agilelab.co.uk (07736 807 604) or Matt@agilelab.co.uk (07713 634 830)