Jianfa Tsai’s Input
“ELI5: The AI model; how to practically apply it? Krogerus, M., & Tschappeler, R. (2023). The decision book: Fifty models for strategic thinking (New ed.). Profile Books.”
Explain Like I’m Five (ELI5)
Imagine you have a giant box of messy Lego blocks and you want to build a cool castle, but you do not know where to start. Strategic models are like special sorting trays that help you group the blocks by color or size so you can clearly see what you have and easily decide which piece to use next. Krogerus and Tschäppeler (2023) collected fifty of these visual sorting trays to help adults organize their messy thoughts, understand what they want, work better with others, and make smart choices without getting overwhelmed.
Most Important Point
Strategic models do not make decisions for you; instead, they reduce cognitive load by visually organizing complex information so you can clearly see the best path forward.
Date
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 7:22 PM AEST
Authors
Jianfa Tsai (https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1809-1686) in collaboration with Gemini AI Pro.
Core Concepts of “The Decision Book”
Krogerus and Tschäppeler (2023) present a curated compendium of visual, structural tools designed to simplify complex realities. The utility of a strategic model relies heavily on its capacity to strip away non-essential variables, thereby allowing the user to focus strictly on actionable metrics (Krogerus & Tschäppeler, 2023). The authors divide their analytical frameworks into four distinct quadrants based on the user’s immediate strategic goal:
- How to improve yourself: Tools focused on personal efficiency and prioritization, such as the Eisenhower Matrix.
- How to understand yourself better: Cognitive frameworks designed for self-reflection and identifying internal motivations, like the Rubber Band Model.
- How to understand others better: Analytical matrices used to assess external variables, business ideas, and social dynamics, such as the BCG Matrix.
- How to improve others: Frameworks centered on leadership, team optimization, and feedback distribution.
The foundational principle of the text is that these models should be interactive and sketched out visually rather than merely contemplated abstractly, as the act of drawing aids in cognitive processing and clarity (Krogerus & Tschäppeler, 2023).
Practical Action Steps
- Optimize Task Prioritization (Personal Life): Apply the Eisenhower Matrix weekly by mapping tasks on a two-by-two grid of urgency versus importance to eliminate low-value activities.
- Resolve Conflicting Dilemmas (Academic Life): Utilize the Rubber Band Model when facing a tough academic choice by explicitly writing down “What is holding me back?” versus “What is pulling me forward?” to clarify the trade-offs.
- Assess Project Viability (Work Life): Sketch out a visual matrix (such as a SWOT analysis or BCG Box) on a physical whiteboard during team meetings to facilitate real-time collaboration and group consensus.
References
Krogerus, M., & Tschäppeler, R. (2023). The decision book: Fifty models for strategic thinking (New ed.). Profile Books.