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Cutler: Progress on complex problems requires holding variables constant, not oversimplifying

John Cutler · What differentiates the highest-performing product teams | John Cutler (The Beautiful Mess) · Jan 15, 2023 · at 26:34

John Cutler explains his framework for tackling organizational complexity and balancing actionable advice with nuanced systems thinking.

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“To get anything done, we need to reduce the world a little bit. You know, that's the difference. And back to this thing of complex problems, I think it's the difference between oversimplification and focusing. You can have like a really complex problem and you can oversimplify it and that's not great, but you can have a complex problem and be like, you know what? I need to hold some things constant. Not going to make any progress unless we hold some things constant to do that.”

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