The Optimization Problem (trap!)

The optimization problem is the problem of finding the best solution from all feasible solutions.

What does the optimization problem look like?

• Person A raises that they have this problem and they're going to try X.
• Person B sees similarities with what another team is going. They are excited by the opportunity to optimize. Person B sets up a meeting to consolidate approaches and decide on a consistent approach across the org.
• Person A and B both meet, perhaps several times. They map out all the possibilities, differences in context, edge cases, etc… in the end, they spend hours seeking an approach that suits both their contexts and future needs.
• After several meetings and countless hours, they finally came up with a consolidated approach that is for everyone but doesn't 100% work for any one team.

As the adage goes: "If you build something for everyone, it works for no one."

This is a common scenario many organizations regularly find themselves in. They spend weeks, even months, trying to find a 'one-size-fits-all' solution.

This is when the optimization problem becomes a trap.

You may not see this happening directly. It doesn't always manifest itself in countless meetings stress…