Clouds

[Appendix]

The Evaporating Cloud as a Tool for Eliminating a Problem

The first step in moving toward the solution of a problem is to define it. In business, most problems exist because of conflicts that arise from misunderstandings, policies or the need to respond to an actual or self-imposed limitation. A problem is not clearly defined until it is presented as a conflict between two necessary conditions. This conflict diagram, called the "Evaporating Cloud," is a logical structure applied in order to define a problem.

Taking the example in Fig 1, "D" and "D' " (prerequisites) are what we observe in reality, and are in conflict with each other to the extent that they are mutually exclusive. The existence of this conflict prevents us from achieving more of the goal "A" (our objective). The requirements "B" and "C" are two absolutely necessary conditions essential to achieving "A", our objective. Attempting to satisfying these two necessary conditions results in the conflict between "D" and "D' " respectively.

To precisely define a problem, or construct an Evaporating Cloud, is only a matter of answering these four questions:

1. Why is the problem undesirable, or bad?

2. Why do you put up with the problem?

3. What is being jeopardized by the problem?

4. Is there a specific action resulting from this problem that you find yourself complaining about? Is an action perhaps causing the problem? Does this problem ever put you into a conflict? If so, describe it.

We seek to find the minimum number of changes needed to create an environment in which the problem simply can not exist. Assuming that a core problem can be described as a big black cloud, the Evaporating Cloud Method strives not to solve the problem (compromise) but to cause the problem to not exist.

Resolving the Conflict

To evaporate the conflict there are two fundamental beliefs that form the essence of a logical win-win. (Compromise is never a good solution.)

1) Cause and effect is what governs reality.
2) Conflicts can be effectively removed from reality.

We intuitively know that logic does not exist in a vacuum - there is cause and effect. If conflicts do not naturally exist in reality, but come as a result of our misunderstanding, then underlying one of the two necessary conditions, if not both, is a hidden assumption about reality which can be addressed to change reality.

Looking at some examples of Clouds, we begin with the classical problem of "How a Business Approaches Solving Its Problems", we can see how an Evaporating Cloud is constructed and resolved. To understand "The (Web) Internet Content Delivery Problem" we begin with a story line...

[Appendix]