HOW PATRICK THINKS
Updated: Sep 29
Why a problem rarely begins where we see it
For me, a problem is something for which there is no solution yet. Symptoms are the first signs that a problem even exists.
For me, these are essential components of a structured approach to identifying problems and developing solutions.
Essentially, it's about finding an energetic optimum. The problem is an imbalance, and the solution is the state where a local optimum is reached.
This is true for technical problems, but it can also be applied to interpersonal systems such as teams and even entire companies.
The difference between a symptom and a problem
For me, a problem is something for which there is no solution yet.
Symptoms are the first signs to recognize a problem.
For me, these are essential components of a structured approach to identifying problems and developing solutions. Essentially, it's about finding an optimal energy level.
A problem is an imbalance, and the solution is the state where a local optimum is reached. This applies to technical problems, but can also be applied to interpersonal systems such as teams and even entire companies.
Why the wrong measurement leads to the wrong solution
For systemic analysis, the initial step is gathering information to understand the system. There are no incorrect measurements in this context. Rather, the key is drawing the right conclusions from the available information in order to arrive at a solution. Therefore, misinterpreting measurements is more accurately described as a misunderstanding of cause-and-effect relationships .
What a machine can tell you if you listen to it.
This reminds me of an example from my childhood. As a child, I was fascinated by Western films with cowboys and Indians… In these films, there were the clever Indians who put their ear to the tracks and could then determine exactly when the train they wanted to rob was coming.
What follows from this is a simple technical connection. The vibrations that can be perceived when a train is "checked" over many kilometers, long before it reaches the place where it is "listened to," describe exactly what the "machine" can reveal.
Every machine that performs an action and moves generates vibrations and other information that can be analyzed. This information can be captured with the appropriate "ears" / sensors and then evaluated accordingly.
Learning to deal with them and put them into perspective can reveal problems that were previously invisible.
Why innovation doesn't begin with an idea
Innovation is not just the idea. It is the idea combined with its execution and implementation.
An idea is more of a consequence of recognizing a problem. Before an idea can be conceived, there is the ability to recognize a problem. Once one is able to describe the problem, the idea is usually not far behind.
Innovation comes with implementation and execution.
What insects can teach us about industrial systems
Biological systems are optimized through many iterative steps. They contain an incredible number of solutions to an incredible number of problems.
Insects are among the oldest living things on Earth. They are one of the most successful families of organisms that we humans study.
The insect system offers an incredible number of solutions. If we look closely, we can gain many insights that can be transferred to a wide variety of domains.
When a simple solution is hidden in a complex problem
The complexity of problems lies in the fact that most problems are not broken down into their individual facets. If a problem appears too complex, it has, in most cases, not been sufficiently decomposed into its individual components.
However, one crucial factor must not be overlooked in this discussion: emergence. Simply dissecting a system into its individual components will not lead to an understanding of the system itself.
The system is more than the sum of its individual components.
Perhaps that is precisely the difference between trying to solve a problem as quickly as possible and trying to truly understand it first.
What problem are you experiencing?
Not every problem needs an immediate solution. Sometimes, the right question is needed first.
If you are facing a technical or systemic challenge that cannot be solved with an obvious answer, it may be worth taking a closer look.
