Finding the right answer to complex questions requires both science and art. Complex questions cannot be answered by the rote application of methods, no matter how advanced. If they could, then they would be merely complicated, not complex.
The science of finding the right answer requires an appropriate mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches regardless of the discipline involved. The domains Group W works in require:
A sophisticated understanding of the disciplines of operations research, mathematics, statistics, computer science and related fields
A sound theoretical foundation in the social sciences including sociology, economics, conflict resolution and related fields
An appreciation for practically-based tacit knowledge of organizational challenges and operational environments
The art of finding the right answer requires:
Recognizing that human behavior is at the heart of almost all complex questions
Appreciating that questions are rarely reducible to simple characterizations
Allowing multi-faceted thinkers to harvest and incorporate the best approaches from ostensibly unrelated domains
Believing that the integration of wisdom and deep expertise can often achieve the seemingly impossible
The ability to communicate and defend insights