Two watchmakers
o3.iconStory Synopsis
Characters: Hora and Tempus, master watchmakers
Product: High-end watch with approx. 1,000 parts per piece
Condition: Phone rings frequently and work is often interrupted
tempus
Assemble 1,000 parts at once from start to finish
If you let go of your hand in the middle of a task, everything falls apart and you have to start all over again from the beginning.
hey!
10 Parts → Create and fix small units
10 small units → medium units
10 medium units → complete
The unit does not collapse when placed in the middle of the process, and resumption starts at that stage.
Result: Tempus resets every time the phone rings, but Hola thrives because it can reopen with very little loss, and Tempus goes out of business.
Key Lessons Learned -- The Power of Hierarchy and Modularity
Hierarchical partitioning (resolution)
Dividing a large problem into stable "subassemblies" makes it more resistant to disturbances and exponentially reduces the search space.
Almost independent" subsystems
Strong coupling within each unit and weak coupling between units → to a structure that Herbert Simon. later called "near decomposable systems".
Speed of evolution and learning
If the intermediate form is stable, "trial and error with conservation" is possible, and the probability and time required to create a complex system can be dramatically improved.
summary
The fable of the two watchmakers has a universal message: "Divide things, organizations, and knowledge into units that cannot be broken down along the way, and build up reusable blocks. Today, when interruptions and environmental changes are commonplace, the hora-like approach--stratification, modularization, and securing a stable intermediate form--is the key to achievement and sustainability. The key to success and sustainability is the holistic approach.
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