X. Decision Tree Pruning

Decision trees - if this, then this and this and that, but if that then this, but not that and also this.

When you consider the options to proceed on a project, sometimes the possibilities can seem endless, untold variations branching out as far as the imagination can see. You might not have even picked out the project yet and are stuck here. It can quickly become not just daunting, but entirely overwhelming.

When there are too many options to choose from, it’s time to get out your pruners and do some trimming. What constraints can you apply to reduce the potential solution space? “I can only use materials I have on hand”, “I need to be able to paint it in an hour”, “The part must have a tolerance of .0001”, “The client needs this done by the end of the week”. Consider what the project requires in the broader scope and of how it can guide individual decisions. The more quickly you can rule out broad categories of options, the more quickly the correct path will reveal itself to you.