The Simplicity on the Far Side of Complexity

"I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity."

This enigmatic expression, when better understood, describes the essence of what Systems Thinking and Strategic Thinking are all about, and in practical terms, how they work. Let's see if we can break this opaque aphorism down into ideas that are more easily visualized and applied to the real world problems we need to solve.

The answer to most dilemmas often turns out to be ridiculously simple. But in order to see and understand the simple answers, we must first wade through what seems like overwhelming complexities in order to organize, prioritize, and unify them so that simple solutions can emerge.

Matthew E. May, in his recent book, The Elegant Solution: Toyota’s Formula for Mastering Innovation, made this seemingly complex concept abundantly clear:

“Customers don’t want products and services, they want solutions to problems."

"Simple is better when talking about solutions, and Elegant is better still."

"An elegant solution is one in which the optimal or desired effect is achieved with the least amount of effort."

“In a mathematical proof, elegance is the minimum number of steps to achieve the solution with greatest clarity. In dance or the martial arts, elegance is minimum motion with maximum effect. In filmmaking, elegance is a simple message with complex meaning. The most challenging games have the fewest rules, as do the most dynamic societies and organisations. An elegant solution is quite often a single tiny idea that changes everything.”

"Elegance is the simplicity found on the far side of complexity.”

– The Elegant Solution: Toyota’s Formula for Mastering Innovation,
Matthew E. May, Free Press, 2007