Summary
To be alive in the twenty-first century is to rely on countless complex systems that profoundly affect our lives, where small mistakes can turn into massive inefficiencies and failures. These failures seem to stem from very different problems, but their underlying causes turn out to be surprisingly similar. This talk will cover about the common threads of these failures, how they can be detected and ultimately prevented using various research disciplines – from market research to anthropology to data science. We need to get good at designing and building for systems to tackle multi-dimensional problems at the intersection of people and technology.
Key Insights
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Design and engineering should be balanced in product development to unlock creative possibilities.
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Knowledge management involves a circular process of creation, distribution, application, and evaluation.
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Studies reveal that combining quantitative (what) and qualitative (where) data enhances decision-making.
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Decentralized knowledge sharing facilitates quicker responses and better alignment across product lines.
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Organizations reflect complex systems, akin to the brain, requiring smooth information flows for optimal function.
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Feedback loops in knowledge cycles allow organizations to continuously improve and innovate.
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Research Operations (Research Ops) can bridge gaps between functions within a company.
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Creating a culture that values knowledge reuse over creation prevents redundancy and optimizes resources.
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Effective onboarding processes improve knowledge asset quality and accessibility over time.
Notable Quotes
"I'm standing on the stage of hapt theater 20 years later."
"A toy is a vehicle that creates spaces where anything is possible."
"The process of knowledge creation and validation is a cyclical, reusable approach."
"Diverse data is crucial to making informed decisions."
"Knowledge needs to be thought of as a reusable circular process."
"Each time this product team cycles through this process, they learn more about how the company works."
"Companies today are complex systems, aligned through information flows."
"With proper maintenance, knowledge becomes a vehicle that probes into the most hidden spaces of what's possible."
"Leadership plays a key role in valuing the creation and distribution of knowledge."
"Our neural network is the ultimate complex system, comprised of a wide variety of data."
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