Strategy v/s Tactical thinking or a Holistic Approach?

“Successful problem solvers are more able to determine the deep structure of a problem before they proceed to match a strategy to it.”

Automation and AI-based learning pivot around patterns. Soon, they will replace the human capacity for specialization. Tactical thinking, short-term tasks, and moves that give you an immediate advantage depend on recognizing patterns; and are easily replicated through automation. Strategic thinking is the bigger picture thinking, for example - How do I change the angle slightly today to get a competitive advantage x months/years down the line? This type of futuristic thinking and decision-making to achieve a long-term goal requires the human element and replicating it is challenging. In fact, strategy and tactics go hand-in-hand, machines will continue to have the upper hand in specializations, memorizing moves and patterns, and the human future will be unperturbed by the ability for lateral thinking.

Analogies, Creativity, and Far Transfer

“Seeding the soil for generalists and polymaths who integrate knowledge takes more than money. It takes the opportunity.”

I had a tough time solving an optimization problem a few months ago. I struggled with it for weeks and relied on all the usual approaches and previous learnings with no luck. Surprisingly (or not), the solution popped up when I decided to switch off and indulge in a movie. In a rescue operation scene, the team takes one survivor at a time to the point-of-safety before proceeding to the next. This scene probed me to think in a direction I had never gone before. Upon further probing, I was able to transfer this analogy to a strategy that solved my problem.

Epstein talks about “far transfer” - i.e., The ability to transfer knowledge effectively from one context to another. Creative problem-solving taps into analogies and integrates between systems to unlock the “simplest” solution.

When the book explores musicians, it talks of how they take baby steps by copying/mimicking existing material and later learning the technicalities of the same. This sort of reverse engineering promotes more generalization and helps them dive into different interests as opposed to early specialization. Hans Zimmer, one of the greatest if not the greatest score composer ever, plays at least five instruments and had only two weeks of Piano training after which he was self-taught. History is full of examples of geniuses who have explored and pivoted again and again. When applied to problem-solving, this would mean having multiple tools or approaches, conceptual understanding of situations, recognizing similarities, and integrating knowledge from different domains to unlock patterns and solutions.

Let The Problem take Center Stage and the Spotlight

Problem-Solving is addictive. At times it may blind you and make you egotistical. Approaches, tools, and people are all supporting actors in a drama with the problem as the protagonist (or antagonist), and it should take centre stage. “Range” is also a mirror for self-awareness. It is a subtle reminder to look around, dig a few inches to the left or right, or perhaps even stop digging.

“And Of course, the time comes when you realize that you haven’t merely been specializing in something- Something has been specializing in you.”

-Arthur Miller, The Price