When Do You Choose the Safe Path?
Early in my career, IBM dominated the computer landscape. They had the big mainframes. There were some alternatives, such as Xerox. I used a Xerox Sigma 6 in school. (I…
Read moreWhen Are You the “Only” One?
In my work, I meet people who think their problems are totally unique. Their issue, their product, their managers—their context is unique. They are correct. While each of us is…
Read moreWhat’s the Solvable Problem?
I had a difficult time seeing a site on my iPad. I grumbled about it to Mark. I said, “They must have changed the font.” He replied, “Is your screen…
Read moreCAL Tip #12: Create & Use Experiments
When do the Ends Justify the Means?
The college admissions scandal is in the news these days. Wealthy parents bought their childrens’ admission into the university of the parents’ choice. It doesn’t appear that the children were…
Read moreWhen Do You Need to Reframe the Problem?
We have problems in our lives. Sometimes, we can fix those problems. Sometimes, we cope with those problems. Sometimes, we manage those problems. And, some problems might appear to have…
Read moreIs This Problem Deterministic or Non-Deterministic?
We solve many problems over the course of a day, week, month, year. Some problems are difficult because the problem is difficult to solve. Some of my book projects are…
Read moreHow Can You Understand Someone’s Context?
A few weeks ago, I was at the Agile 2018 conference. The conference has changed from its beginnings. It’s now full of certifications and big consulting organizations that will sell…
Read moreWhere Do We Go From Here?
We encounter a problem somewhere, at work, at home. We often reflect, to discover the root cause(s). That might be useful, especially if we discover a common cause, something within…
Read moreWhat’s the Worst Thing You Could Do?
I often think about the worst thing that could happen, as a way to manage risk. That’s one alternative. Sometimes, when I’m stuck on a problem, I think about the…
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