Elimination Team Workspace
Pick a submission from the queue, start with “Why are we even doing this?”, work through the lenses, and record a decision. Multiple team members can add evaluations before a decision is recorded.
Problem before solution. Ask why we’re even doing this. Define the problem without naming the solution. Then ask whether it’s our problem to solve at all, and whether it needs a solution. A bloated organization starts solving problems that aren’t its to solve, providing oversight “because we can” rather than because it’s strategic. Don’t try to solve every problem.
The two questions. Would it matter if we didn’t do it? Would anyone miss it if it were gone?
Four moves. Stop it (Eliminate), do it less often or simplify it (Modify), fold it into something else (Consolidate), or move it to the right owner or tool (Modify). Keep is for things that pass the two questions.
Not sure? Stop till they squawk. Pause it, and restore only what people actually miss. Use Defer with a review date when a trial pause is the honest answer.
Watch for sunk cost and affection. “We’ve always done it” and “someone worked hard on this” are reasons it survived, not reasons it should.
All principles · Simplify, Ch. 2 — Delete · Ch. 30 — Simplify Culture