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Case type 18

Non-standard and creative cases

A prompt that fits no familiar type, handled from first principles: clarify the objective, build a simple model, and find the levers.

16 min1 lesson Last reviewed
Start the lesson Non-standard and creative cases

How do you approach a non-standard or creative case?

  • Clarify the objective, build a structure from first principles, and explain your logic step by step even when no familiar framework fits.
  • The most common mistake: forcing a familiar framework onto a problem it does not fit.
  • Do not force a familiar framework onto an unfamiliar problem. Clarify the objective, build a simple model of the system, find the levers the model shows, and choose the cheapest one to test first.
By the end you will be able to
  • Stay calm on an unfamiliar prompt
  • Reason from first principles and build a simple model
  • Build a structure when no framework fits