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Matrix Decision Making
I had the pleasure of working with the authors of this book for over a year as a research assistant. Over that time I came to deeply associate with the 2x2 Matrix approach to problem-solving, and believe it is one of the most novel, fun, and effective ways of understanding business and personal dilemmas.
The idea behind 2x2 Matrix problem solving is to simplify any dilemma you're experiencing to its two core, often competing, facets. For example, The Gartner Magic Quadrant evaluates a company's technology solution based on Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute. These two aspects are then placed on opposing axis of a grid and given hi/low extremes. This instantly generates four quadrants of distinctly different possible scenarios. In this case:
- Niche Players - Low completeness of vision, low ability to execute
- Visionaries - High completeness of vision, low ability to execute
- Challengers - Low completeness of vision, high ability to execute
- Leaders - High completeness of vision, high ability to execute
The authors, Alex Lowy and Phil Hood, have gone to great lengths to examine outstanding problem solving practices offering both an academic explanation of the theory behind 2x2 modeling, and a profile of 55 of the best decision models out there.
These 55 decision models, presented in short, clear summaries with illustrations and often technology-based case examples (drawn from IBM, Apple, HP, Borland, and the open source world) are the real gold in the book. The models range from highly business-oriented strategy, marketing, and employee-motivation frameworks, to personally oriented frameworks that help structure time, understand personality conflicts, improve leadership skills, and evaluate career transition opportunities.
Chapter 3 is devoted to what the authors call Archetypal Business Dilemmas. The dilemmas presented here speak vividly to the challenges being experienced right now by the open source community:
- Head vs. Heart The toughest choices are between doing what makes sense, and what feels right.
- Content vs. Process Content is the what, Process is the how. Success in most things requires mastery of both qualities.
Also, there are a host of technology gurus who have been interviewed and have matrices presented from their work: Charles Fine, author of Clockspeed; Watts Wacker, author of The Deviant's Advantage ; Hal Varian and Carl Shapiro, authors of Information Rules ; Paul Weifels and Geoffrey Moore, authors of Crossing the Chasm; and Joseph Pine and James Gilmore, authors of The Experience Economy.
It is almost impossible to read this book and not compulsively apply these exceptional models to personal life. At the moment I've been working with Stephen Covey's Urgency and Importance matrix.
For many of us, life is filled with tasks that are Urgent, leaving little time for more fundamental and long-term activities necessary for personal and professional development.The Time Management matrix explores two key dimensions, Importance and Urgency:
Importance. Things that are important are reflective of one's values and contribute to achieving higher-priority goals and personal mission. Importance is about results that matter.
Urgency. Urgent things require immediate attention. They tend to be visible, popular with others, and to act on us.
My cell-phone and inbox both feel highly Urgent, and I often answer my messages immediately, despite the fact that in most situations their Importance is questionable. I'm working at shifting away from a crisis-oriented instant response, which is in turn generating more free time to work on the things that are really important to me but don't necessarily jump in front of my face.
Without actually sitting down and plotting how I used my time during a week on the matrix, I would never have had to directly face the multitude of things I was sacrificing just to keep up with my trivial emails. It's the simplicity and clarity of 2x2 modeling that makes it a great tool for wrestling with dilemmas, and generating deep insights.
Most will find the book an easy and engaging read, especially the framework sections. The downside, if there is one, is the sheer volume of great frameworks. One can only absorb a few at a time and for this reason I'd recommend reading slowly, jumping from the table of contents right to parts that sound the most interesting.
You can purchase The Power of the 2x2 Matrix from bn.com; a sample chapter is available here. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews. To see your own review here, carefully read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
Red pill or blue pill?
Considering this is /. I highly doubt it.
"Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
is whether to read this book or not.
An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
"... simplify any dilemma you're experiencing to its two core, often competing, facets..." then flip a coin.
"Academicians are more likely to share each other's toothbrush than each other's nomenclature."
Cohen
Fortunately, I have a highly complex mind that can reduce any machine to a simple yes or no answer.
No!
Hitchhiker: You heard of this thing, the 2x2 Matrix?
Ted Stroehmann: Yeah, sure, 2x2 Matrix. Yeah, the decision making strategy.
Hitchhiker: Yeah, this is going to blow that right out of the water. Listen to this: 1... by... 1... Matrix.
Ted Stroehmann: Right. Yes. OK, alright. I see where you're going.
Hitchhiker: Think about it. You walk into a book store, you see 2x2 Matrix sittin' there, there's 1x1 Matrix right beside it. Which one are you gonna pick, man?
Ted Stroehmann: I would go for the 1x1.
Hitchhiker: Bingo, man, bingo. 1x1 Matrix. And we guarantee just as good a workout as the 2x2 Matrix folk.
Ted Stroehmann: You guarantee it? That's -- how do you do that?
Hitchhiker: If you're not happy with the first 1x1 matrix, we're gonna send you an extra 1x1 matrix free. You see? That's it. That's our motto. That's where we're comin' from. That's from "A" to "B".
Ted Stroehmann: That's right. That's -- that's good. That's good. Unless, of course, somebody comes up with 0x0. Then you're in trouble, huh?
It's 10 PM. Do you know if you're un-American?
Whether I leave my cellphone at home, or prioritize my current activities higher than the interruption of the vibrating electronics
What if your current activities involve vibrating electronics that aren't communications devices?
Now I see where our management team got their 'proactive' and 'synergy' and other buzzwords.
Thank you VERY MUCH Stephen Covey...
"Who Moved My Cheese"
This book is quite useful if you had some cheese, someone moved it, and you can't for the life of you figure out who did it.
After reading the above blurb about putting it on a 2x2 grid, I had a strong image of Robin Williams at the board drawing graphs as the student read, then afterward saying 'excrement', or some such. I expect that in the case of this decision-making thing, it can actually make sense to use the method. For judging poetry, though, no.
Also, I agree with the posts elsewhere- my first thought on the topic WAS the movies.
seeker: "Master, can you help me to be more decisive?"
master: "Sure, here's how to decide anything. Make a 2x2 matrix and put your choices in it. Then choose the best answer."
seeker: "Ok, I assigned the variables randomly because I couldn't decide where to put them... now, which one is the right choice?"
master: "Uhhh.... I didn't realize you were a borderline intellectual functioner."
There is no right answer. Heute die wilt. Do or do not. yadda yadda...
No shit. Hearing management monkeys talk about "parameters" and "matrices" and "sigmas" is like hearing a dog bark about quantum physics.
The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
N- "I asked you for your advice on which pill I should take, now instead of 2 choices I have 4. Are you messing with me? Or is this that 'new math' crap I heard about?"
M- "Okay, I'll skip the mystic mentor method and go straight to Telling You What to Do (tm). What you REALLY need is more choices..."
(an hour passes)
N- "Okay, so I can either fly to Bogota and look for a bearded man selling mule rides near a banana stand, or I can call my cousin Mikey and ask him to think of a prime number, or I can tap my heels together three times..."
M- "Damn, you're too stupid to get it aren't you. I guess you're not the One. Give me back my pills."
N- "ha ha ha ha ha, I'll just sell them both, and screw you and your philosophical dilemmas. I don't need Ultimate Awareness, I've got UltimatePasswords.com"
It's even better to play this game with someone who does not like pie ...
If I go to a company and I see "How to Win Friends and Influence People", "Who Moved My Cheese","The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" or "Managment for Dummies" on a desk I know that it is not a place I want to work.
On the other hand, if I see "How to Win Friends and Influence Cheese," "Who Moved My People," "The Seven Habits of Dummies," and "Management for Highly Effective People" on a desk I'll know it's a fun place to work.
This matrix concept is clearly inferior to the Jump to Conclusions mat.
90% Professional Slacker
I could almost feel my hair getting pointy just reading the blurb. And for some reason, I'm craving synergy. I think I'll go write a mission statement.
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
The Seven Habits of How To Win Cheese and Influence Dummies
Shouldn't that be
The Seven Highly Effective Management Habits to Win Cheese, Influence People, and Move Dummies.
But the only person I know who is into Carnegie's stuff. Has the book it would seem has even been to classes and shit. Is a complete and total asshole.
I'm posting Paid For Placement on this article.
and while I'm at it, where the heck are all the Funny +5 that many of the posts above so deserve!
So it seems that you should always wager for God, right? Not so fast:
------------------- God_is_Good ---- God_is_Evil
Wager for God: ------ Gain all - Become Undead Minion?
Wager against God: - Status quo ------ Misery
Basically only an Evil (or at least malicious) God is going to punish you for not believing in things which are unprovable (God having MADE you in the first place).
So, do you really want to accept that God is Evil? And if God is Evil, what exactly are you going to gain?
It's 10 PM. Do you know if you're un-American?
oh sorry, i made a mistake in my chart:
---------------------True--------False
Wager for X------Not crushed--You look like a massive idiot because you are afraid of a giant boulder materializing from thin air and crushing you in a grisly death
It's 10 PM. Do you know if you're un-American?