In a chaotic world, models help simplify and structure complex ideas to help us better understand and gain an overview. The book presents 50 useful decision-making models, divided into sections on helping/ improving ourselves/ others. The short book is not particularly designed for read through, but more for a quick reference. I like that each model is presented succinctly, on less than one page with a simply illustrated diagram. I don’t think all the models were necessarily “the best”, as the author claims. I thought that quite a few were not terribly insightful, although I concede that may be because I lack familiarity and context with these. Out of the 50, I found about a dozen that were interesting and useful to me. I think that mental models are a great way of organizing and visualizing ideas, and conveying thoughts and strategies to other people. This is an area we all would benefit to study more.
- Models should not prescribe what or how we should think. They should be a part of a continuation of our own active thinking.
- Models don’t reflect reality exactly. In simplifying and stripping away the details, they only focus on the central themes.
- Models are best explained when drawn with simple, clear, and relevant symbols (or stick figures). People are visual creatures. Images help people understand and engage better.
- The models I found
most interesting, important, and relevant to me:
- Eisenhower’s Matrix: important distinction between tasks that are ‘urgent’ rather than ‘important’.
- SWOT Analysis: businesses can be evaluated on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
- BCG Box: categorizing businesses based on growth potential and market share, there are ‘cash cows’, ‘stars’, ‘question marks’, and ‘dogs’
- (John Whitmore) Goals Model: goals should be formulated so that they are ‘SMART’, ‘PURE, and ‘CLEAR’
- Johari Window: distinction between the known/ unknown self and that which we reveal/can be seen by others
- Swiss Cheese Model: how and why we make mistakes
- Maslow’s Pyramid: what we desire the most are usually what we need the least
- Pareto Principle: a small number of high value items contribute disproportionately to the total
- Diffusion Model: how a product becomes widely accepted. It is first accepted by ‘innovators and ‘early adopters’; then if it crosses a tipping point ‘chasm’, spreads greatly to the ‘skeptical masses’
- Gap in the Market Model: position your competitors on three dimensions: prestige, cost, and awareness. Look for an unoccupied niche.
- Role-Playing (Six thinking Hats) Model: six thinking perspectives to stimulate creative thinking—analytical, emotional, critical, optimistic, creative, structured
- Result Optimization Model: gather ideas –> consolidate into concept –> implement. Repeat and refine cycle three times.
- “Better late than never. But never late is better.” When it comes to mistakes, try to make them quick and cheap. Lengthy deliberations that ultimately lead to mistakes make them doubly bad because they are also costly.
Finished: 23-Mar-2019. Rating: 6/10.