How can you recognize patterns and improve decision-making?

An important step in recognising patterns in others and our own behaviour is to become comfortable in reflection, discussion and solution focus. One of the barriers to becoming effective in these areas is our discomfort discussing our weaknesses. I have found a great way to build our comfort in discussing areas that need to develop is to raise them first to another trusted mentor or colleague. The more we practice conversational supervision, the easier it gets. The more comfortable we are the more we can learn about ourselves, the more we open up to learning about ourselves, the more we are open to learning about others. Learning is a scaffolding for a solutions focussed environment... Then the excitement begins.

Professionally I use process mapping to document patterns, usually manual and or lack of appropriate technology. Once you collect all of the facts and document them on something visual it becomes easier to make your case about operational gaps or patterns that are undesirable. If you are facing a complex or ambiguous situation I suggest collecting as many facts as you can before concluding a solution. Patterns tell a story it's your job to understand that story and then do something with that information.

Machine Learning You don't have to be a data scientist to make use of machine learning. While data scientists typically handle the training and fine-tuning of ML models, the derived insights are intended for business users. As per the Harvard Business Review, data scientists often face difficulties in conveying the value of ML insights, with "results not used by decision makers" identified as one of the primary challenges. Leverage predictive insights derived from machine learning to empower business users in making quicker and informed decisions. Harness the capabilities of predictive AI through machine learning to foster innovation, enhance efficiency, and drive strategic decision-making throughout your organization.

I think the main issue here is best illustrated by the process studies of Toyta. Every study done came back with some form of tool, if we only use this we will get as efficient as Toyota. Except it didn't work, why because the tools are just a result of Kata the Toyota Culture and with out Kata you'll never get anywhere near it. Also why would you want to. Instead use the Kata framework in order to arrive at you own efficency tools that works for your culture and organization. In other words it's not the results it's what creates them thats important.

Understanding patterns is crucial in deciphering consistent happenings or similarities in data, events, behavior, or phenomena. It allows us to grasp the fundamental reasons, consequences, connections, or tendencies within a specific context. For example, Over a year, you identify a spike in sales during the holiday season, with a noticeable increase starting from November and peaking in December. This reveals a seasonal pattern tied to festive shopping.

An engineering client was tackling a spike in employee churn. With advanced analytics, we identified patterns in user behavior. We found that employees who showed high involvement in corporate volunteering and ESG activities had longer tenures. This discovery helped the firm introspect on the pattern and devise employee engagement activities to improve retention.

This is where a good Vision comes into play. A good vision makes you say no to things and guides you in the right direction. It also lets you know what your organisational limits are depending of the type of organisation your running - Frederic Laloux Then there is the purpos of why and the purpos of movement as described by Simon Sinek and Simon Wardley. Also finally as Yves Morieux states - "The real battle is against ourselves, against our bureaucaucy, our complicatedness - Only you can fight it" Don't bother with your compatition it will only lead you to a read ocean strategy. Apple doesnt bother with Microsoft there focused on becoming a better version of them selves more then anything.

Ubiquitous in our surroundings, patterns wield significant influence in decision-making across diverse domains. Whether it's discerning trends, forecasting outcomes, streamlining processes, or scrutinizing customer behavior, the ability to identify patterns empowers decision-makers. This empowerment stems from gaining insights, making predictions, and guiding actions based on observed regularities. By accurately interpreting patterns and taking into account contextual factors, decision-makers can craft informed and efficacious decisions. Embracing the potency of patterns allows me to leverage it for improved strategic planning, adept risk management and nimble adaptation to change.

Great observation on the patterns in decision-making. While helpful in creating frameworks, patterns can also box us into set ways of thinking. One method I've found effective is to sometimes challenge these patterns by seeking out different viewpoints or data sets that might not naturally align with my existing assumptions. This helps me to counteract my bias and opens the door to more innovative solutions. It's all about using patterns as a guide, not an unchangeable template.

Identifying patterns is both art and science. First define the business goals and challenges to solve. Then comes data sourcing. Collect diverse data sets and apply statistical and/or advanced analytical tools, like AI algorithms, to process this data. Domain experts then validate these patterns, ensuring they are not mere coincidences but useful insights that can be acted upon.

Mastering Pattern Recognition for Problem-Solving 🔍 Developing your ability to recognize patterns is a game-changer for supercharging your problem-solving skills. 🚀 Here are some actionable tips to refine your pattern recognition abilities: 🧩 Regular Practice 👀 Mindful Observation 🔄 Learn from Experience 📚 Diversify Your Reading 🌐 Explore Different Domains 📊 Visual Aid 👥 Collaboration is Key 📓 Maintain a Journal 🎓 Continuous Learning 🚀 Challenge Yourself ❓ Curiosity is Key Remember, enhancing your pattern recognition skills is an ongoing journey. Embrace deliberate practice, stay curious, and revel in the exciting world of patterns. 🌐✨

I would recomend Argyris and Schon 1974 - Double loop learning and then ad on Tripple loop learning in order get the organizational context shifted in the right direction. Once that's in place it's time to implement Wardley mapping by Simon Wardley so we can all agree on where the future is and where we are gooing. Or as Simon puts it "You have to optimazie for the evelutionary flow before you optimaize for effiency". In other words don't waist time on what will be the past.

The best way to improve your pattern recognition skills is to question the patterns around you. Ask for data to verify the “known patterns” everyone around you holds on to. Quite often you will find that these truisms are not reality. Sometimes they never were, and just came from lazy thinking. Sometimes they are not anymore as the whole environment changed. Asking for data for these “known” patterns will help you to throw out old and wrong assumptions and make space for better ones.

It is important to correctly evaluate a pattern by "diving deep" and trying to decipher the causal factors and relationships at play which are causing a pattern to take shape. Sometimes the entities driving a certain pattern are not obvious and an extra bit of research is needed to become conversant with such hidden factors in the first place. This kind of analysis is very useful and should be done using first principles or by using sound heuristics (which in turn should have sound first principle foundations).

We all learn to recognize patterns differently based on our unique personalities. Some of us are driven by intuition and “gut feeling” and some of us are more data driven and logical. Ultimately it is important to be self-aware and understand our biases when it comes to pattern recognition in various spheres of life. Sound data analysis, keen observation, thoughtful connecting the dots, honest attempts at self-awareness and conscious efforts to overcome our biases should ultimately guide us (and our intuition).