Now that you know how to break down your massive idea into actionable steps using the Mammoth model, let's learn how you can make these actionable steps disciplined.
The MECE Technique to Problem Solving
The MECE Technique enforces an additional restriction to your problem-solving approach — the solutions you come up with at each level need to be Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive.
Making your sub-germs Mutually Exclusive
When your sub-germs are mutually exclusive, you don’t have to worry about double-counting, or worrying about where to add the next level of sub-germ later on.
A simple rule of thumb is to ask yourself “does this idea belong under a larger category?”. If no two sub-germs at a specific level can be condensed together they are mutually exclusive.
Mutual exclusivity is even more obvious when the sub-germs you are adding are talking about the various choices you should take going down. If the selection of any choice here precludes the selection of any other choice, you can tell your grandchildren that your sub-germs are mutually exclusive.
Making your sub-germs Collectively Exhaustive
Having a set of collectively exhaustive sub-germs is your absolute utopia. By definition, this means that you have thought of and covered every single angle in taking the parent idea forward.
Of course, unless you moonlight as a fortune teller, this is going to be hard. A simpler way out is to add another sub-germ at every level called “Other” or “Miscellaneous”. This germ will then hold all your ideas that don’t fit into any other sub-germs yet. Once you start noticing similarities or patterns within the sub-germs in the Other group, you can always break them apart and create a new sub-germ to house them.
The MECE technique adds discipline and rigor to the Mammoth Model. Once you’ve laid your options out on the canvas, you can already brainstorm within each germ, make it actionable, and assign it to a specific person to follow through. Only now, you can be sure you’ve thought out every possible angle of every idea, without stepping on your own toes.