See the original post here. The post describes an interview with a birder and a doctor. They discuss similarities between pattern recognition in bird identification, medical diagnosis and business. Here’s an insightful quote:
HBR: Can you describe how you begin to identify patterns? In business pattern recognition still seems to be more of an art than a science.
Sibley:
Pattern finding in birding is scientific in the sense that it is very deductive. I’m aware that there are patterns out there…and I try to fit my observations to patterns. It’s like making hypotheses and then testing them.
ThinkingAnalytically discussion starters:
- How is pattern finding in your business more like an art or more like a science?
- Do you tend to create a hypothesis then look for patterns to prove it…or…do you tend to gather patterns then develop a hypothesis that explains the patterns?
Use the comments to contribute.
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customer/fan, I’m intrigued by his thoughts on innovation. Here are a few tid-bits:
He includes examples of innovation at Amazon.com such as the Kindle e-book reader. Which, by the way, is on my wish list. I’d love to review one for you but first I’d need to get one in my own hands. Check it out at 