Clayton Christensen Quotes

I have had my results for a long time: but I do not yet know how I am to arrive at them.

I used to think there was a scientific way to do things. Like a proper way to answer a question or that kind of stuff. It's like, there's not! There's not a method, there's not a science to it.

Uncertainty is a permanent part of the leadership landscape. It never goes away.

Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well informed just to be undecided about them.

It must be able to assist in devising the method of solution of problems and not merely solve them.

The easiest way to solve a problem is to pick an easy one.

Intellectuals are good at seeing the big picture. But they are not so good at process.

The possible solutions to a given problem emerge as the leaves of a tree, each node representing a point of deliberation and decision.

I hate to write Solutions in my books because I don’t really have solutions.

I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which, when you looked at it in the right way, did not become still more complicated.

You've outlined the problem very well. Solutions are much more difficult to come by.

If we have as a clear certainty with which to plan, total uncertainty, then that would be helpful.

The great problem now is that we don’t know what to do.

I try to look at problems very clearly and think, 'How do we get out of this? What will work? What will be the consequences for the people involved?'

It's not an easy job to think creatively and then also have to think logistically.

I always try to stay methodical and logical with everything I do, playing cricket and making decisions.

My favorite question is 'Why?' I think it can be really helpful - I also think it can be annoying to people at times; I'll admit that. But I really do try to understand why are we approaching it this way, does it makes sense, is this the right answer, why is it the right answer, are there other paths to getting there, could those be better.

Writing is sort of like chess for me. You have to think carefully before you move, thinking, planning.

I give people ideas on how to solve intractable problems.

Whenever I think about an issue, I always argue the opposite side of it. So, when I ultimately decide on a course of action, I've already been through all the conceivable scenarios, and I'm going to go for it.

No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.

If you want to think new thoughts that are different, then do what creative people do - get the problem reasonably clear and then refuse to look at any answers until you've thought the problem through carefully how you would do it, how you could slightly change the problem to be the correct one.

I'm a problem-solver.

I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it.

I'm very careful not to have ideas, because they're inaccurate.