The ‘Cherry Split’ technique, also known as Fractionation, involves breaking a complex challenge into its smallest possible components. By dissecting the whole into its parts, you can solve each piece individually or rearrange them into a new, superior whole.
Divide and Conquer
Complex problems are often just a bundle of simple problems stuck together.
Define Your Challenge
Write down the problem you are trying to solve.
Example: “Improve a restaurant’s performance.”
Split the Challenge
Break the challenge into two major attributes.
- The Food (Product)
- The Service (Process)
Fractionate Further
Take each attribute and split it again. Continue until you have tiny, manageable pieces.
- The Food: Taste, presentation, variety, ingredients, price.
- The Service: Speed, friendliness, cleanliness, ambiance, booking.
Reassemble and Solve
Look at the fragments and brainstorm ideas for each, or combine them in new ways.
- Presentation + Ambiance: Serve food on unique wooden boards to match a rustic theme.
- Speed + Booking: Implement a pre-order system for lunch crowds.
Practice
Your challenge: “Reduce commute stress.” Split it into “The Vehicle” and “The Routine.” Split “The Routine” further into “Morning Prep” and “Route.”