The Simplicity Cycle & Learning

The Simplicity Cycle is a graphical exploration of the relationship between complexity, goodness and time. I developed it to counter the all-too-common assumption that an increase in complexity always means an increase in value.

For a complete tour of the Cycle, check out the brief manifesto I wrote for ChangeThis. One of the applications for this diagram is the learning process, and that's what I'd like to talk about here.

When we approach an unfamiliar discipline, we are in the bottom left quadrant of the chart. Our understanding of the concept (aka goodness) is low, and so is the complexity of our thought. As we begin to add data and learn things, we move up and to the right - in the direction of both increased complexity and increased goodness... but at some point, we have to put the pieces together and change our behavior. Failing to do this leads us to the upper left quadrant, the realm of the complicated. Trust me, you don't want to go there.

To a certain extent, Mediocrity resides in the center of the graph - this is the point where you know enough about the subject to pass the test, but haven't yet grasped the gestalt, the zeitgeist, or other foreign words of your choice. Creative applications of the discipline aren't quite in your grasp yet, let alone new contributions or discoveries.

To get over the hump and begin moving down & to the right, you've got to unlearn & abandon some previously useful activities and principles ('cause they've outlived their usefulness). The primary activity at that point is putting pieces together, not adding new pieces. It's about synthesis, not genesis.

I'm currently researching a new concept called Systemic Operational Design (SOD). It's still a new discipline, and the "recommended reading list" from the concept's originator runs to 8 pages, with 111 items. That puts SOD squarely in the Region of the Complex (dead center of the diagram). That's not a bad thing at all - it's a natural part of the journey. I am confident that researchers & deep thinkers are already working on unifying the concepts, simplifying and streamlining it into some sort of coherent whole. This takes time, and perhaps there are more key concepts that have yet to be created. Time will tell.

I would love to hear about other applications & variations on the Simplicity Cycle. I hope you find it a useful way to represent the journey of understanding. Happy trails!

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Dan Ward is a military technologist, electrical engineer, storyteller and juggler. You can visit with Dan at his blog and at Rogue Project Leader, a webzine for project leaders with attitude!

Comments

[tim]

Dan:

I've been revisiting this image and your Simplicity Cycle site since you introduced it to the group. I have always known that there is a "simplicity on the far side of complexity" and have been encouraged to make the journey whenever the opportunity presents itself.

In many ways, simple is what you get when you watch a master perform in which he or she makes something rather difficult look easy. It could be in sports, playing a musical instrument, or designing a work of art. How does one make it look so easy? It's because they've walked through this cycle in their area of expertise.

I am curious about the "time" arrow. I didn't see that on the site. Does that mean that over time, the simple things become simplistic and must go through the cycle again? Thus the word - cycle?

[Dan]

Great observations! Yes, the master who is "in the zone" is a great example of someone who's made it over the hump.

Good catch on the time arrow. That's a relatively late addition to the Simplicity Cycle concept, and basically it's there to illustrate the principle that today's breakthrough (which has high goodness) is tomorrow's commodity (which has lower goodness).

In other words, time exerts pressure in the direction of negative goodness - this is not a static situation, where one can simply arrive and put down an anchor. Time pushes steadily, and we've got to keep swimming, keep moving forward, in order to maintain the optimal goodness of our learning, design or other output.

[Greg Balanko-Dickson]

I love your idea and concept.

Strikes me that when a master demonstrates something that looks effortless, easy, and simple - he is really showing how much he/she has grown.

Is this not also similar to how we move from an Unconscious Incompetent -> Conscious Competent?

When we are totally new to something we do not know what we do not know. As we become aware and begin to learn and train we move from Incompetence to Competence.

The issue of complexity vs. simplicity is relative – to my knowledge, skill, and understanding of the subject.

Does your map not add a level of complexity to the subject of ‘learning’?

Plus what is it that we need should be measuring? Complexity, simplicity, learning, or is it something more universal and practical such as assimilation of information, the ability to implement, and growth in skills?

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Very interesting cycle Dan. I look forward to learning more from you about this as time goes on. I am but a pollywog in the journey towards a simpler life.