Book Summary: The Elegant Solution

The Elegant Solution by Matthew E. May

Part I: Principles
The Art of Ingenuity - Business meets art and science in an emerging view of work.
The Pursuit of Perfection - Conventional wisdom forcing a choice between small steps and big leaps misses the point.
The Rhythm of Fit - What distinguishes great innovation is its ability to serve the changing needs of society.


Part II: Practices
Let Learning Lead - Learning and innovation go hand in hand, but learning comes first
Problem: Learning disabilities hinder 360 innovation.
Cause: Learning is misunderstood and undervalued.
Solution: Make learning the job

IDEA: Investigate -> Design -> Execute -> Adjust

Learn to See - Elegant solutions often come from customers - get out more and live in their world
Problem: Solutions don't work as imagined
Cause: The facts aren't clearly understood
Solution: Learn to see

a) Observe -- watch the customer
b) Infiltrate -- become the customer
c) Collaborate -- involve the customer

Design for Today - Focus on clear and present needs, or your great ideas remain just that
Problem: Solutions land far before the need
Cause: Preoccupation with invention
Solution: Design for today

innovation -> providing tomorrow's solution for today's problem

Think in Pictures - Make your intentions visual - You'll surprise yourself with the image
Problem: The endgame isn't clear
Cause: Underdeveloped storytelling skill
Solution: Tell the story with pictures.

Capture the Intangible - The most compelling solutions are often perceptual and emotional
Problem: Solutions lack that certain something
Cause: Transaction tunnel vision
Solution: Capture the intangible

Leverage the Limits - Restraining Forces Rule - Resource constraints can spur ingenuity
Problem: The entrepreneurial spirit is M.I.A.
Cause: Addiction to abundant resources
Solution: Rest the bar

Master the Tension - Breakthrough thinking demands something to break through
Problem: Solutions lack inspiration
Cause: We satisfice
Solution: Work through creative tension

Run the Numbers - Think for yourself - Temper instinct with insight, focus on facts, and do the math
Problem: Proposed solutions lack basis in fact
Cause: Aversion to numbers
Solution: Counter intuition with insight

Make Kaizen Mandatory - Pursuing perfection requires great discipline - Create a standard, follow it, and find a better way
Problem: Innovation is hit or miss
Cause: Creativity is misdirected and mismanaged
Solution: Embed the kaizen ethic

Kaizen basis is standardisation
Creating a standard requires: A. Clarity B. Consensus
a) Establish a Best Practice
b) Document the Standard
c) Train to the Method

Keep it Lean - Complexity kills - scale it back, make it simple, and let it flow
Problem: Too many, too much - of everything
Cause: Assumption that more is better
Solution: Start thinking lean

Lean: doing more of what matters by eliminating what doesn't
How do we know we are lean? When the customer says "It's just what I needed. Getting it was effortless."
Lean: Customers pull compelling value from you effortlessly.

Leaders make meaning