Subtraction is the new Black

Complexity is everywhere

Applications and processes have become ever more complicated as vendors and organizations attempt to do more of value. As customers ask for more, the natural tendency has been to deliver more of what the customer asks for.

The problem comes when resource constraints are applied. 2000 and 2008 haven't been kind to IT investment - so now we're routinely operating in a cost constrained environment.

The Alignment Trap

Suddenly overkill in complexity and functionality doesn't help. It's more expensive to support complex products. More expensive to run complex processes. And even customers have limited resources when it comes to selection. 

As Bain noted, Schwab found themselves with multiple technologies integrated in a patchwork that increased the cost and reduced the customer experience. A lose - lose value proposition.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

The real problem comes when we end up with too much complexity and cost incurring capabilities, and not enough of the core and value adding capabilities.

In his quote, what DaVinci was highlighting was that to succeed in the new world of excess and complexity success is defined more by subtraction than continued addition.

Subtraction is the much harder discipline of removing anything exceeding requirements, consuming unnecessary resource, confusing interaction models. Especially hard when you have existing customers demanding more complexity.

Three keys to success

1. Define the new target user
2. Drive lower cost and raise efficiency
3. Avoid re-adding complexity

Are you caught in the Alignment Trap?

What are your inhibitors and value drivers for driving Simplification. Please respond in the comments.