Complexity

Finding solutions to difficult problems is not always about struggling to find a novel solution.  Sometimes the difficulty is a matter of complexity.  A problem might comprise of a large number of factors, each of which has a complex interaction with the other factors.  Complex problems may also be difficult to deal with because it may not be clear what the ideal solution looks like.  For example, social mobility is a burning political issue, but how do you measure it, what constitutes success?

The goal is to reveal the key relationship(s) that may be obscured by too many complex interactions. 

There is more than one approach to these problems.  Here is an example from a TED talk detailing the complex problems facing the NATO forces in Afganistan (its amazing what you can get into 3 minutes).  As Eric Berlow stresses, the idea is to see relationships that cause you to ask new questions.  From a highly detailed map of the factors, he extracts three basic principles.

Alternatively, there is an approach called Concept Mapping which was developed by  William M. Trochim.  This endeavours to discover underlying structures and relationships using a ‘qualitative’ statistical approach.   I showed that in Assumption Mapping, the idea was to place factors within a grid depending upon how they rated against defined key parameters.  Concept Mapping enables us to discover the key criteria amongst an array of confusing and complex factors.  Discovering these parameters enables us to simply the problem and gain new insights.

Problems come in all shapes and sizes, and ‘qualitative’ problems are amongst the most intractable.  These are useful tools that can help cut through the confusion and provide clarity and enlightenment.