In this episode of The Puzzle, Isaak and Bruno investigate the question of whether it’s possible to get things right the first time, when developing a product.

Isaak emphasizes that mutability and adaptability are crucial to the process, as it’s impossible to get everything perfect on the initial try. He also highlights how some businesses, like Toyota, use iterations at the shop floor to refine their products, which debunks the notion of doing things right the first time. Bruno adds that overemphasizing drift can lead to a focus on efficiency rather than effectiveness, resulting in ineffective outcomes. The discussion touches upon the importance of building quality into one’s work, but not getting stuck in thinking they have to get everything perfect before releasing it to the market. They also caution against falling into the trap of local maximum or optimum, especially when working in silos within a division or team. Additionally, they bring up the concept of knowledge work, which is an integral part of innovation and product development, but often overlooked. The conversation concludes by highlighting the importance of flexibility and adaptability in the face of uncertainty and change, with the promise of exploring project failures in future episodes.