Working on complex systems: What I learned working at Google

Hello! Today, let’s discuss a fascinating topic: complex systems. Introduction Throughout my career, I’ve worked in many complicated environments. For instance, I worked on optimizing driver-passenger matching in ride-hailing at a Uber's competitor. This context, like others, was technically challenging. Yet, nothing comes close in terms of complexity with my current experience at Google and two years there have refined my perception of complexity. In this post, we will break down the very concept of complexity. Next, we will take a step back to understand what makes certain environments rather complex than complicated and then explore patterns for navigating complex systems effectively. Complicated vs. Complex Understanding the distinction between complicated and complex problems is crucial because each requires a fundamentally different approach: Complicated problems are intricate but predictable . They followed structured, repeatable solutions. For example, filing taxes is com ... Read full article.