Comments on: Looking for the Critical Portion http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/06/30/looking-for-the-critical-portion/ Thinking beyond productivity Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:54:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Lyn http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/06/30/looking-for-the-critical-portion/#comment-431 Lyn Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:19:15 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/06/30/looking-for-the-critical-portion/#comment-431 It seems to me that you're talking about mindfulness, both in terms of completing projects and in terms of dieting. Leap into a project without considering efficiency and risk the time suck or some other problem. Leap into a bowl of chocolate fudge and risk...erm...drowning. ;) Kidding aside, I add two thoughts to the mix: (a) Is MY way of doing this project the most efficient? This speaks to your first two bullets, but in a different perspective: MY way may not be the best way. Is a different approach (or a handoff to a coworker/subcontractor) called for? (b) I keep looking at that abstract 20% -- who in my organization is most likely to be able to finish that 20% (without taking >80% of the project's time to do it?). Ideally, there's a way to maximize one's under-utilized staff resources (but I haven't found it yet). It seems to me that you’re talking about mindfulness, both in terms of completing projects and in terms of dieting. Leap into a project without considering efficiency and risk the time suck or some other problem. Leap into a bowl of chocolate fudge and risk…erm…drowning. ;)

Kidding aside, I add two thoughts to the mix:
(a) Is MY way of doing this project the most efficient? This speaks to your first two bullets, but in a different perspective: MY way may not be the best way. Is a different approach (or a handoff to a coworker/subcontractor) called for?
(b) I keep looking at that abstract 20% — who in my organization is most likely to be able to finish that 20% (without taking >80% of the project’s time to do it?). Ideally, there’s a way to maximize one’s under-utilized staff resources (but I haven’t found it yet).

]]> By: Andre http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/06/30/looking-for-the-critical-portion/#comment-429 Andre Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:26:01 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/06/30/looking-for-the-critical-portion/#comment-429 The theme is the same but the emphasis is different. The question isn't how to get the most results for the least effort, but to examine what portion of your current efforts is making the decisive impact. You're looking for the point of diminishing returns, which is an act of reflection that I don't think is common. Many people's impulse is to log more hours at work rather that look at where the results of those hours trail off. That was why I used the plate analogy. Most people will attempt to finish what's on their plates rather than think about how much of the food on their plates constitutes "enough." The theme is the same but the emphasis is different. The question isn’t how to get the most results for the least effort, but to examine what portion of your current efforts is making the decisive impact. You’re looking for the point of diminishing returns, which is an act of reflection that I don’t think is common. Many people’s impulse is to log more hours at work rather that look at where the results of those hours trail off.

That was why I used the plate analogy. Most people will attempt to finish what’s on their plates rather than think about how much of the food on their plates constitutes “enough.”

]]> By: vered http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/06/30/looking-for-the-critical-portion/#comment-425 vered Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:43:48 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/06/30/looking-for-the-critical-portion/#comment-425 I think many people do this subconsciously. We ask ourselves what is the least amount of effort that would produce the best results. I know I do that. I think many people do this subconsciously. We ask ourselves what is the least amount of effort that would produce the best results. I know I do that.

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