Common sense in a complex world: Why some methods stand the test of time

Chatgpt: Fog with some sunlight.

Double Diamonds. Triple Diamonds. Design Sprints. Lean Startups. Business Model Canvas. OKRs. Jobs To Be Done. The Core Model.

Anyone else feeling lost in the "methodology fog"? That state where we're so focused on doing all the "right" methods that we forget to ask the fundamental questions?

On May 13  hosted a webinar with Jim Kalbach, Chief Evangelist at Mural and author of "The Jobs To Be Done Playbook" and "Mapping Experiences". We'll explored how to escape methodology madness and focus on what actually works.

Methodology addiction vs. common sense

Let's be honest: many of us have become "methodology junkies" – chasing every shiny new framework that promises to revolutionize our work. We've all been there (I'm guilty too!).

Remember when Lean Startup was going to solve everything? When Design Sprints were THE way to innovate? When the Business Model Canvas would transform every organization? Now it's AI prompting and LLM workflows!

These are all great methods when used appropriately. The problem comes when we:

  1. Follow methodologies dogmatically without understanding their purpose

  2. Choose methods because they're trending, not because they fit our needs

  3. Focus more on mastering the method than solving actual problems

  4. Forget to ask fundamental questions like "why are we doing this?"

Meanwhile, core user needs remain remarkably consistent. People still want to accomplish specific tasks, solve specific problems, and make progress in their lives. Businesses still need to create value and achieve measurable outcomes.

Back to basics: enduring frameworks

What makes certain methods stand the test of time while others become yesterday's hype? I believe it's their focus on core principles rather than prescriptive steps:

Some frameworks that have stood the test of time.

While the Core Model is "only" 19 years old, all of these approaches share a focus on fundamentals over fashion. They've survived because they address universal needs rather than technological trends.

Compare these to approaches that burned bright and faded. Some became industry standards for a while, then were replaced by newer trends. Not because they were bad – they contained valuable insights – but because they often promised universal solutions to complex, context-specific challenges.

Wait – am I just adding to the methodology fog by promoting the Core Model? Fair question!

The point isn't to replace one method with another, but to recognize approaches that help us cut through complexity rather than adding to it. The best frameworks aren't ends in themselves, but tools to help us think more clearly.

The simple questions we forget to ask

Ove Dalen recently proposed these seemingly banal but essential questions to ask when you're lost in the methodology fog:

  • Why are we doing this? What problem are we actually trying to solve?

  • Can we do this more simply? Are we making it unnecessarily complex?

  • Is what we're working on truly important? Or are we spending a lot of time on something relatively unimportant?

  • What value does this actually provide to customers/citizens/users?

  • Are we applying common sense? Or are we getting caught up in methodology dogma?

What JTBD and the Core Model share is that they force us to answer these questions before getting lost in execution details.

Both approaches succeed because they:

  1. Start with essentials – Users have specific goals; businesses need specific outcomes

  2. Force prioritization – They make us identify what truly matters versus what's nice-to-have

  3. Work across contexts – They apply equally well to e-commerce, government services, or internal tools

  4. Enable cross-disciplinary collaboration – They provide a shared language that bridges silos

  5. Apply common sense – They're built on fundamentals rather than trendy concepts

The Power of Ruthless Prioritization

In a world of infinite options but finite resources, the ability to ruthlessly prioritize isn't just nice-to-have - it's essential. Both these methods are prioritization machines.

The focus-first approach gives you three concrete advantages:

  1. Clarity Instead of Confusion: When teams align on core jobs and content needs, debates shift from "what do we think is cool?" to "what will actually help users make progress?"

  2. Decisiveness Instead of Deadlock: Inside-out thinking breaks decision paralysis by creating clear criteria for what stays and what goes. Say no to endless discussions about edge cases.

  3. Progress Instead of Politics: By focusing on user outcomes rather than organizational structures, you escape the gravity of internal politics and department-specific agendas.

I've witnessed this kind of transformation with with all kinds of clients, projects and teams, from government agencies to lean startups. When they start focusing on the essential core rather than trying to please everyone, their attitude changes - teams align, resources get allocated effectively, and users actually get what they need.

Escape the methodology fog - join us

If you're tired of the methodology treadmill and want to focus on what actually works, join Jim Kalbach and me on Wednesday May 13th at 19:00 (CET) for a free webinar where we'll:

  • Cut through the methodology hype to identify timeless principles that work

  • Show how JTBD and the Core Model help teams focus on what truly matters

  • Demonstrate a hybrid approach that combines the best of both frameworks

Inside-Out strategy - A conversation between Jim Kalbach and yours truly.

We'll be presenting from within a Mural board with the brand new Core Model Mural template.

Register here:

👉 https://thecoremodel.com/webinar-jtbd 👈

If you can't make it, register anyway and I'll send you the recording and the link to the Mural template.

❤️ from Norway,

Are

PS: After the webinar, my book "The Core Model - A Common Sense Approach to Digital Straetegy and Design" will be available for sale from thecoremodel.com. After 19 years of development, I decided the planned Kickstarter campaign was unnecessary, and I'll make the book available as a digital purchase PDF to everyone interested.

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