The Pot of Gold or the Mermaid?
Description
While browsing the CMSIG over at Yahoo!, I came across this entry from Jack Vinson:
We often talk about TOC being "common sense." And we always follow that up with some version of, "but it isn't common practice." I have a funny feeling about this. Is this idea being used to tell our clients how smart we are -- and how dumb they are? If we show them that they haven't been following "common sense" are we telling them that they are dumb?
So, the question is, are we insulting our clients when we show them how "simple" things are? Are we damaging our own reputation by providing "easy" solutions? What is the balance between providing complicated-seeming solutions and solutions which are simple-yet-not-common-practice?
I think the following cloud begins to address a few of Jack’s points. It’s from a story Eli told at TOC-ICO, which I have taken a few liberties with. You are at the bottom of the cliff at a beautiful seashore. With you is a beautiful mermaid that you really like. At that same time, there are an ever increasing number of alligators appearing, and you have had a few close calls. (They don’t seem interested in the mermaid, if that’s a concern, but you look like an all-you-can eat buffet to them).
Along comes a consultant, and he points to the top of the cliff. "Look up there - that's a pot of gold!" You look and are amazed you haven't seen it before - it IS a pot of gold, and it looks huge. The consultant continues, “Ah, its simple and its common sense! Build a ladder and go get the pot of gold! You’ll avoid the alligators as well – it’s a win-win to me! Where do I send the bill?”
But the consultant can’t really see the mermaid. Oh, he understands she’s there, but he keeps pointing at the alligators and the cliff and palm trees, and says you should get busy, and he's probably right.
But you don’t get started. You’ve seen other people build ladders to get coconuts or bananas, and a lot of them seem to fall (or get pushed). And there always seems to be an alligator at the bottom of the ladder when that happens. Plus, that cliff is high! Can I build a ladder that big? Will the sand support it? Is there stuff on the cliff that could attack me, or my ladder? It looks cold up there, and all I have are a t-shirt and shorts. Hmm, well, I’ll think about it some more, but for now, my mermaid is singing, and she has a nice seafood chowder on the stove. Plus, I’ll have to whack that alligator who is sitting at my place at the table. We’ll look at it tomorrow….
But tomorrow is full of alligator fighting, and the chief show up with unreasonable demands for coconuts, and then the hut caught on fire. Plus, no one else is building a ladder to get up the cliff – I’ll start building mine once they have shown they can get it working. Yes, building a ladder and getting the pot of gold is simple, and it makes perfect sense, but there’s a different between simple and easy!
That’s the different – simple vs. easy. The VV process is not meant to be easy. In fact, one of the key steps at the beginning is to convince the client that cliff is much higher than they thought! But the VV process also points out the potential hazards, and the solutions (here’s how you make sure the base will support the ladder, here’s how you make a ladder that big, once you get to the gold, you can buy new clothes, etc) It also acknowledges the Mermaid, and makes sure you are willing to leave her behind. If not, let’s not start the VV process.
So here’s this week’s cloud – hope it makes sense!
1. In order to A I must B because...
· Wealth allows me to acquire basic needs – food shelter, clothing.
· It allows me to help others.
· It will allow me to purchase things to make me happy.
3. In order to B I must D because...
· There are plenty of palm trees to make a ladder.
· It’s a HUGE pot of gold.
· Climbing the ladder will also allow me to escape the ever increasing number of alligators that are coming to where I am.
2. In order to A I must C because...
· An injury would make me very unhappy, and be very painful.
4. In order to C I must D' because...
· Ladders can be dangerous, and I have seen other people fall (or be pushed) off a ladder many times before.
· No one else seems to be building a ladder – they must be smarter than I am. .
· The mermaid is VERY beautiful and likes me a lot.
· I’ve been able to handle the alligators so far -- it’s a risk I understand.
· I don’t really know what other risks beside falling off that there are building and climbing that ladder, but my intuition tells me that there are a lot.
