Aperture Book of the Month - April 2024

Systems thinking demands that we view problems – and possible options for their address – from a variety of perspectives in order to gain an insight into systemic interactions more than just the basic components. With this in mind, our book of the month for April 2024 is Range by David Epstein.

Epstein’s view is contrary to conventional wisdom that specialisation is key to success. The book’s core thesis is that generalists with a broad range of skills and experience are more adaptable, intuitive, and creative than specialists. Generalists therefore have much to offer in the current operating environment, characterised as it is by increasing complexity, information overload, and wicked problems. Epstein highlights that they are particularly adept at making connections across disciplines, an attribute that fits very well with systems-based approaches such as our ‘Four Frames’ methodology for strategy design.

Range encourages a shift in mindset, away from a rigorous focus on detail. As Epstein puts it, ‘Seeing small pieces of a larger jigsaw puzzle in isolation, no matter how high-definition the picture, is insufficient to grapple with humanity’s greatest challenges’. Depth of perspective will be an insightful asset in most circumstances, but breadth of perspective brings so much more to the table.