Mental Models Application Checklist

Problem Framing

I have clearly defined the problem I’m trying to solve

I have considered whether this is a simple, complicated, or complex problem

I have identified which mental models might be most relevant to this situation

I have avoided rushing to a single model or perspective

Systems Thinking Application

I have identified all the key elements involved in this situation

I have mapped how these elements influence each other

I have identified feedback loops (both reinforcing and balancing)

I have considered delays between causes and effects

I have anticipated potential unintended consequences of interventions

Second-Order Thinking

I have identified the immediate (first-order) effects of potential actions

I have considered what happens next (second-order effects)

I have thought about how people might adapt to changes

I have evaluated both short-term and long-term consequences

I have considered impacts on different stakeholders over time

Opportunity Cost Analysis

I have identified what else could be done with the same resources

I have considered the next best alternative to each option

I have evaluated what I’m giving up by making each choice

I have determined if this is the highest-value use of resources

I have made opportunity costs explicit in my decision process

Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)

I have identified which few factors drive most of the results

I have looked for areas where I can get disproportionate returns

I have prioritized the vital few inputs over the trivial many

I have considered what I could eliminate with minimal impact

I have focused resources on the highest-leverage activities

Margin of Safety

I have acknowledged the uncertainty in my predictions

I have built in buffer room for errors and unexpected events

I have increased safety margins for areas with greater uncertainty

I have designed solutions to be robust against reasonable errors

I have considered worst-case scenarios and how to mitigate them

Confirmation Bias Awareness

I have actively sought evidence that might prove me wrong

I have given equal attention to confirming and disconfirming information

I have considered what someone who disagrees would point out

I have been mindful of how I might be filtering information

I have invited diverse perspectives to challenge my thinking

Incentive Analysis

I have identified what behaviors are being rewarded or punished

I have looked for misalignments between goals and incentives

I have considered what unintended behaviors might be encouraged

I have thought about how people might game the system

I have designed incentives that align with desired outcomes

Constraint Analysis

I have identified the current limiting factors in this situation

I have focused improvement efforts on the primary constraint

I have considered what would become the next bottleneck if this constraint were removed

I have distinguished between physical, policy, and paradigm constraints

I have evaluated whether constraints should be accepted, exploited, or eliminated

Multi-Model Analysis

I have applied at least three different mental models to the problem

I have noted insights generated by each model

I have looked for patterns and contradictions across models

I have integrated insights from multiple models

I have identified which models provided the most valuable perspectives

Documentation and Learning

I have documented which mental models I applied

I have recorded the key insights from each model

I have noted which models were most useful for this type of problem

I have identified mental models I should learn more about

I have reflected on how to improve my mental model application

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