Occam’s Razor

Most product managers (including myself, previously) tend to complicate issues by default. We see declining metrics and jump straight into elaborate theories, maybe competitors are stealing users, or perhaps it's a subtle algorithm change.

Occam’s Razor challenges us to pause and ask:

• What's the simplest possible explanation?
• Could a basic issue be hiding in plain sight?

The Theory

Occam’s Razor is about simplicity. When faced with multiple explanations or solutions, choose the one with the fewest assumptions and least complexity. It doesn’t guarantee correctness, but it cuts noise, preventing unnecessary complexity from obscuring your clarity.

For example, if your user engagement drops, the simplest reason could be a recent UI change confusing users, not a sophisticated competitor strategy or hidden technical glitch.

Product Management applications

Occam’s Razor has practical, immediate applications in product decisions:

• Diagnosing Problems Quickly: Rather than overanalyzing data, first check basics. Did you recently change something obvious, pricing, onboarding flow, or UI?
• Prioritizing Features: When teams propose complex new features, challenge them: "Could we solve this with fewer steps or less complexity?"
• Communicating Clearly: Simplify complex strategies into clear, concise explanations. If your roadmap or feature plan can’t fit on one slide, you’re probably overcomplicating it.

My personal extension: The power of simplicity in leadership

Occam’s Razor isn’t just about products, it transforms leadership and team culture.

Great product leaders simplify decision-making:

• Distill strategic decisions down to core factors (user value, cost, technical feasibility).
• Push teams to articulate ideas in simple language. If they can't, it's likely the idea isn't fully thought through.

Using Occam’s Razor as a leadership tool helps avoid "complexity bias," where complicated solutions seem smarter. Simplicity becomes a sign of clarity, not superficiality. Over time, teams internalize simplicity, creating a culture focused on elegant solutions rather than unnecessary complexity.

Great Resources on Occam’s Razor

• Farnam Street - Occam’s Razor: Straightforward explanation and practical examples of applying simplicity to everyday decisions.
• UnTools - Occam’s Razor: Clear guide showing how simplifying your choices enhances decision-making effectiveness.
• The Decision Lab - Occam’s Razor: Deep dive into how simplicity improves cognitive clarity and reduces errors.
• Nassim Taleb’s “Antifragile”: Highlights Occam’s Razor within complex risk decisions, advocating simplicity in uncertainty.
• TED Talk by Alan Siegel - Why Simplicity Wins: Demonstrates the real-world power of simplicity in communication and decision-making.