Management - Bill Gates' 4-Point Plan to Solve Complex Problems

In his June 7, 2007 commencement speech deliveredas an illustration of his 4-Point Plan:
at Harvard, Microsoft's Bill Gates has singled out1) Goal is to eradicate AIDS. period.
"complexity" as the chief culprit why not only many2) Prevention is the " highest leverage approach"
serious problems around the world don't get solvedsince it brings the highest degree of protection.
but also why people don't get involved. If only3) Ideal technology would be a vaccine that with a
complex problems could be attacked with a propersingle doze would protect people for a lifetime. But
methodology then we would have better success atthat technology is still many years away.
solving global problems like illiteracy, epidemics, lack of4) Doing the best with the technology we do have
clean drinking water, etc. Gates said.involves encouraging people "to avoid risky behavior."
The 4-Point Plan suggested by America's richestBut in my humble opinion this "clear goal, correct
businessman and philanthropist involves the followingtechnology" approach underestimates the importance
steps:of POLITICS in human affairs.
1) Determine a goal. What is the desired "end state"?A lot of times, things do not get done not because
2) Find the "highest leverage approach." Whichthe issue is very complex or not because there are
approach would yield the highest result towards theno appropriate technologies at hand. Especially in the
goal?less developed countries a lot misery continues to
3) Discover the ideal technology for that approach.exist because peace meal solutions and stopgap
4) But in the meanwhile, make the smartestmeasures give political power to the ruling elite and
application of the existing technology.guarantee the perpetuation of the status quo.
Gates explained his ideal approach to eradicate AIDS