You try to tackle every problem, explore every opportunity, and cater to every potential customer. But what you end up with is a scattered approach that lacks depth and fails to resonate with anyone.

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Hatched by Glasp

Sep 18, 2023

4 min read

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You try to tackle every problem, explore every opportunity, and cater to every potential customer. But what you end up with is a scattered approach that lacks depth and fails to resonate with anyone.

This is where the concept of note-taking comes in. Note-taking may seem like a simple and mundane task, but when done right, it can actually help you become an expert in your field. Let's dive into how note-taking can contribute to your expertise and why it's important in ill-structured domains.

Cognitive Flexibility Theory (CFT) is a learning theory that emphasizes the importance of note-taking in ill-structured domains. Ill-structured domains are characterized by the variability and messiness of concepts in the real world. In such domains, reasoning from first principles becomes challenging, and experts rely on comparing and contrasting previous cases to navigate novel situations.

Take the case of Texas Instruments (TI) in the semiconductor industry. TI faced a learning period at the beginning of every manufacturing run, where they struggled to increase yields for new processes. To address this, they implemented "learning curve pricing," initially pricing their chips cheaply to capture market share and drive volumes up. This allowed them to rapidly climb the learning curve and improve yields.

Similarly, Netflix took bold and counter-intuitive moves by ramping up their debt load and investing in original content. This move transformed content from a variable cost to a fixed-cost item, leveling the playing field and ensuring that competitors had to invest the same amount of money, regardless of their subscriber base. Both cases demonstrate the importance of scale economies in ill-structured domains, but they express it in different ways.

In ill-structured domains, cases are as important, if not more important, than concepts themselves. Novices tend to cling to generalized lessons from one case and struggle when faced with variations. On the other hand, experts reason by comparing previous cases rather than relying solely on first principles. This is where note-taking comes into play.

By taking notes on various cases and their intricacies, you can build a collection of fragments that can be combined to construct temporary schemas on the fly. This adaptive worldview allows experts to navigate complex and ever-changing situations. It's important not to oversimplify concepts but expose yourself to as many cases as possible, allowing for a broader understanding of their variability.

However, studying cases comes with its challenges. Humans are not great at remembering all the details, and each case often involves multiple intertwined concepts. To overcome this, the use of a hypertextual system, such as a note-taking app with backlinking capabilities, is recommended. This system allows you to link related notes and explore the interconnectedness of concepts.

So, how can you use note-taking to enhance your learning and become an expert in your field? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

  • 1. Choose a note-taking app with backlinking capabilities: This will enable you to create a network of interconnected notes, linking related concepts and cases for a holistic understanding.
  • 2. Start copying cases into your note-taking app: Whether it's articles, PDFs, books, or blog posts, compile a collection of cases that you can refer to and analyze when faced with similar situations.
  • 3. Engage in combinatorial idea play: Use your note-taking system to engage in tasks and multiple case contrasts. Analyze crossroad cases, unpacking them in various ways to develop a deep understanding. Revisit and reuse these crossroad cases in different contexts to promote overlearning and connection building between concepts.

By implementing these strategies, you can harness the power of note-taking to develop expertise in ill-structured domains. Remember, note-taking is not just about capturing information; it's about building a mental framework and adaptive worldview that allows you to navigate complexity and make informed decisions.

In conclusion, note-taking is a powerful tool that can help you become an expert in your field. By studying cases, capturing their nuances in a well-organized note-taking system, and engaging in combinatorial idea play, you can develop a deep understanding of ill-structured domains and enhance your problem-solving abilities. So, start taking notes and embark on your journey to expertise. Remember, big things have small beginnings, and note-taking is one of those small beginnings that can lead to significant achievements.

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