Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

There are usually several ways to accomplish a given set of objectives. I find it good to consider a few of these ways before choosing one.

This is an exercise to help decide what to do. I’ll write this as a conversation.

Person: I am going to do X.

Consultant: That’s interesting. What are your objectives for doing X?

Person: I want to accomplish (A), (B), and (C).

Consultant: What else might you do that would also accomplish (A), (B), and (C)?

Person: I hadn’t thought of that. -pause- I guess if I did Y or Z, I would also accomplish (A), (B), and (C).

Consultant: How would doing Y or Z be better than doing X? How would doing Y or Z be not as good as doing X?

Person: I hadn’t thought of that either. -pause- I suppose…

Consultant: Now decide what you are going to do.

I had this conversation with consultant and author Jerry Weinberg about ten years ago. I have had this conversation with myself many times since. The conversation does not always cause me to do something that differs from my initial choice. It does, however, always cause me to learn a thing or two, and that is a pretty good result.

This goes back to the title of this post – there are other ways to reach the same objectives. Some of those ways will be superior to the first thing that pops in your head.