Creative Solutions From Unusual Combinations
A systematic methodology for engineering breakthrough innovations from familiar elements combined in unfamiliar ways
Solving Problems That Don't Want to Stay Solved
Why some problems fight back against solutions—and how to stay ahead of them
Why Your Stakeholders Define the Problem Differently
When stakeholders can't agree on the problem, the disagreement itself is the most valuable data you have
The Problem Behind the Problem
Why fixing the same issues repeatedly signals you're treating symptoms, not causes—and how to find the right level for lasting change.
Why Simple Problems Become Complex
That straightforward fix has layers you haven't seen yet—here's how to navigate them.
How to Decompose Overwhelming Problems
Systematic methods for breaking impossible challenges into problems you can actually solve
Solving Problems Across Silos
Why organizational problems resist solutions—and how to design collaboration that actually works
Finding Problems Worth Solving
Why the most important problem to solve is which problem to solve
How Experts and Novices Solve Problems Differently
Expert problem-solvers don't just know more—they've built different mental architectures for deploying what they know.
When More Information Makes Decisions Worse
Why the instinct to gather more data before deciding often sabotages the decisions you're trying to improve
Solving Problems You'll Only Face Once
Most problems deserve systems. Some deserve just enough structure to solve once and move on.
How to Know When You've Found the Right Solution
Stop selecting solutions by persuasion—use systematic frameworks that evaluate fit, robustness, and explicit tradeoffs.
How Physical Space Shapes Problem Solving
Why where you think matters as much as how you think, and how to design spaces that enhance both creativity and analysis.
Building Problems That Solve Themselves
Stop managing recurring problems and start designing conditions where the right outcomes happen automatically through system structure.
The Danger of Solving Problems Too Fast
Why extending problem exploration before converging on solutions leads to dramatically better outcomes and fewer expensive course corrections.
The Constraint You're Ignoring Is Your Biggest Advantage
Transform limitations from obstacles into innovation engines through systematic constraint mapping, deliberate restriction, and strategic leverage.
Why Your Problem Keeps Coming Back: The Root Cause Trap
Stop fixing the same problems repeatedly—learn systematic techniques to identify and eliminate true root causes permanently.
How to Solve Problems You Don't Fully Understand
Practical frameworks for making meaningful progress when you can't define the problem before you start solving it.
Why Obvious Solutions Usually Fail at Scale
Master the hidden dynamics that transform promising pilots into organizational disasters—and learn to design solutions that actually thrive at scale.
The Hidden Assumptions Sabotaging Your Solutions
Discover the invisible beliefs constraining your solutions and learn systematic techniques to question, test, and transcend them for breakthrough results.
Breaking Through When You've Tried Everything
When effort fails, the problem isn't willpower—it's your problem definition. Learn systematic reframing techniques that reveal hidden solution paths.