So many of us in IT started out programmers and many love the details and the challenge of a good problem to solve. We see it in the challenge of a bad piece of code, flawed project scope, or a bad operational process. But when it comes to the softer side of IT, these problems become more challenging, yet we still take the challenges. We take them on through budget reductions, revenue to budget targets, organizational remodels, leadership changes, and the list goes on.

One thing we in IT tend to do is over engineer our solutions, whether they are to fix that piece of broken code, the bad organization layout, or the budget target. We want to deliver quality, and who really doesn’t. In these times, many organizations are being forced to scale back their solutions to the lighter side to save on budget or resources.

But let’s take a different look. A look back to a 14th century Franciscan friar, William of Ockam, who is known for Ockham’s Razor around the law of economy or parsimony. The law of parsimony basically is the law stating that less is better. Ockam’s Razor specifically states, “entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily”.

With the help of Ockham applied to our current economic situation, one would argue that the simplest solution meeting the needs of the business is the most fiscally responsible to the business. For example, not what is wanted, but what is needed. The razor theory asks that problems be cut down to their root and not over embellish, for it is often in this over embellishment that we over thing a problem and thus over engineer a solution that is costly and unjustified. This bloats our costs throughout our lifecycles.

This applied strategy, can aid in the business relations between the IT departments and the business as the groups liaise better. The communication is simpler and logical business terms and opposed to complex IT issues. The same is true if the issue is morale related with an individual. If having the conversation with a disgruntled employee and trying to explain behavioral modification theories and how you are going to implement a 4 step performance and motivation plan to help them feel more secure is not going to connect to the employee and will probably not connect to the root issues. The conversation needs start with some simple and root issues. Let the razor cut the rest away.

So the next time you are challenged with a problem, remember the complex solution that covers everything may not be the right answer. The right answer might be the simplest answer.

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