It’s OK to Push Against Boundaries To Make Things Better

Many of us, perhaps the majority of us, are insufficiently cynical about how the world really works.

We spend time doing what we think is right – and are frustrated when things don’t work out.

Many years ago, I went to a seminar on decision modelling, where I was introduced to decision trees.

These are branching models of decisions, consequences and outcomes.

Forks in the road, if you will. Times that come along where you must choose to go one way or another.

These choices come along all the time. Should I buy this software or wait? Approve this project or not? Go one way or another?

We can spend a lot of time modelling all the options and putting together sets of recommendations.

But does all this modelling actually help – will anyone use it in decision making?

That’s where understanding boundaries comes in handy.

All too often, we draw a boundary around the work that ignores where real power, real decision making authority rests.

I saw a good example of this during a recent seminar. This had to do with ways of decarbonising an asset portfolio – and there were a number of options that could be explored.

We could look at redesigning the assets, changing fuel sources, working out schedules and timelines for replacement.

But what was possible depended entirely on government regulation being passed.

Although it looked like there were many options, the political and policy process, which was outside the boundary of the analysis, would determine which pathway through the decision tree could be activated.

So, all we can do right now is wait.

A fancy term for that is preserving optionality – wait until you absolutely have to do something rather than moving too fast too early.

In the meantime, use the tools you already have to get on with what must be done.

Of course, this is also a recipe for stagnation. If you do only what is required, how will you get ahead and prosper?

And that’s why the prescription is not about being cynical or about being over-prepared – it’s about tempering analysis with a dose of reality.

Do the modelling – it helps you think clearly about what might happen in the future, but include the constraints and fuzzy factors that are traditionally excluded as being too “soft” from your analysis.

Boundaries are also mental constructs – it’s ok to push against them when you’re trying to change something for the better.