sub-optimizing

The Cost of Narrow Focus: Why Optimizing Problems Backfires

THE EFFECTIVE PROBLEMSOLVER #082 When solving the world’s biggest problems, it’s easy to fall into the trap of breaking them into smaller, manageable pieces—optimize one aspect, get the best result, and move on.  This approach, popular in the effective altruism movement, seems efficient.  But what happens when focusing on a single part leads to unintended […]

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More money? Or more strategic?

More Money or More Strategic? (Hint: Think Leverage)

THE EFFECTIVE PROBLEMSOLVER #080 In the social sector, we often find ourselves relying on large-scale investments to address complex problems.  Whether it’s pouring billions into housing programs or expanding healthcare initiatives, the assumption is that bigger budgets lead to better outcomes.  But what if we’ve been missing the real opportunities for change?  What if the

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