Cloning the Bright Spots – Fixing Analysis Paralysis

Great stuff. Simple idea. The capability of solving a problem not by analyzing, but simply by cloning the success cases is a crucial skill in the modern age, where problems are just too complex and intractable.

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When I read the examples, such as the Sternin’s task to solve malnutrition in Vietnam, I felt reassured, especially on my new found job. The most common question I got this CNY when people see my name card was: “Har? You marketing one arh?” Many friends whom I meet once a year or two continue to remember me as the engineer trained geek who can pretend to solve all problems under the sun.

But it is indeed the case today. No one really knows every part of the business in SingTel. To be able to drive innovation into many segments and products require that I quickly find the bright spot quickly and efficiently. I do not have the opportunity to be trained and operate in the “line”, whether it’s building the product, sizing the market, pitching, selling, maintaining etc. And yet when I need to tackle an entirely new segment, I need to instantly become an expert. Slowly I’ve learned to ask “what makes the most money”, “who buys these products/services most”, “how do the loyal/frequent users use your products/services” and stuff like that before going around town to hunt for a technology partner who embodies these characteristics, if not promote and instruct the industry to innovate along the lines of the bright spots.

And more often than not, I get into an analysis paralysis situation that I couldn’t contribute to due to lack of background, and it turned out to be a blessing. I simply find a bright spot and say – this is cool, it works and it sells, let’s try to build more of these, while you the venerable telco guru go figure out what’s wrong with the older product/service. The discussion ends and we get to work. Anyway, my dept can’t drive fundamental changes to the century long telco business (there’s another team called the “Idea Factory” that looks into deep long term shifts in the business), SiX is really going all around SingTel to help every team find their next big thing (or if you like the academic term: “ideate”, or ideation).

Looks like my to-read list is growing…