Solve Problems Really Fast
Today I'm excited to share a high leverage framework that makes complex problems easy to navigate with little effort.
3 Aug '22This post is influenced the book Bulletproof Problem Solving, written by two McKinseyites, Charles Conn, and Robert McLean. I recommend picking it up if you want a deep dive into problem solving frameworks.
Problem disaggregation
“Problem disaggregation” can be summarised as: breaking down a problem into logical components so that it can be understood.
Problem solving is effectively understanding a situation well enough so it can be resolved. It’s often said that a well understood problem is already half solved.
To demonstrate the importance of understanding a problem before trying to solve it, Abraham Lincoln famously said “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
In this sense, problem disaggregation is a tool that exposes the different parts of a problem, making it easier to understand, prioritise, and work with.
How to disaggregate any problem
The best way to learn the disaggregation process is by example, so let's look at a simple example followed by a more complex one.
Example 1: Simple problem
Problem
You need to get from your hotel to the airport with all your luggage in time for a flight home.
Context
You're in a country you've never visited before, and you don't speak the language. You know there are several transport options available, each with tradeoffs.
Components
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Transport options: Uber, Taxi, Coach.
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Time: you've got 3hrs until boarding.
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Luggage: one large suitcase and a small bag.
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Assistance: one helpful member of hotel staff speaks English.
Confidence values
With the components identified, they can be compared to give a confidence rating for each transport option.
Confidence is subjective but it's still measurable. By weighting each variable based on its subjective importance, the different components can be independently measured.

Example 2: Complex problem
This example is borrowed from Bulletproof Problem Solving.
Problem
A family is moving home. Where should they live?
Components (weighted)
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Proximity to good schools [0.35]
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…2x sub variables
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Nice environment [0.25]
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…3x sub variables
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A cool, friendly town [0.25]
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…6x sub variables
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Not too far from everything [0.15]
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…1 x sub variable
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Weighted score

Further use cases
I hope you've found learning about disaggregation theory as revealing as I did when I first stumbled into it.
The disaggregation framework is a real Swiss Army knife. It's useful across domains, and with problems of different complexities. It can be applied to business questions like "should we market to segment X or Y," or "which product idea higher risk".
If you want to learn more about framing the problem well, read my previous post which explains how to define problem statements.
Catch you soon,
– Jason
PS – You can explore the data used in this post in this Google sheet!