By Mark Jørgensen Chaudhry
“People start doing all this dumb sh*t… there’s all these weird processes that the organization has created — and some of those weird processes are inherently destructive of people actually getting value.”
— Alexandra Chapman
We’ve all seen it.
Projects launched with vague intentions.
Workshops packed with post-its but no clear path.
Business cases bloated with guesswork and hope.
And then the real tragedy — teams that burn out delivering “solutions” nobody needs, while the original purpose gets buried under layers of process, politics, and performative activity.
This is what Alexandra Chapman calls “doing dumb sh*t”.
And in episode “12 – Outcomes Thinking: How to Stop People in Organizations from Doing Stupid S..t with Alexandra Chapman“, we explore how to stop it.
From Chaos to Clarity: What Is Outcomes Thinking?
Alexandra has spent over four decades guiding organizations from chaos and confusion to being deliberate about moving towards future desired outcomes and benefits. Her work co-developing the Value Equation and promoting what she calls Outcomes Thinking offers a way out of the madness.
Outcomes Thinking is more than a method, a model or a framework. It is also a mindset. Something that can be learned. It forces us to ask:
- What value are we trying to create?
- For whom?
- How will we know when we’ve succeeded?
Instead of starting with tasks or technology, we start with desired outcomes — the future states we want to bring into being “when everything is working just right”.
That’s where the Value Equation comes in.
The Value Equation: A Simple Formula for Smarter Projects
The Value Equation is Alexandra’s antidote to project chaos. It provides a clear structure for answering the most important questions in any initiative.
This structure cuts through complexity and gives everyone a shared language — from C-level executives to delivery teams.
Why It Matters
When we don’t define value clearly at the start, we set ourselves up for failure. Early assumptions lock us into decisions that are hard to undo later. We get the illusion of progress – without knowing if we’re heading in the right direction.
The result?
Smart people doing meaningless work.
Burned budgets. Frustrated teams. Disillusioned stakeholders.
The alternative is Outcomes Thinking.
A Gift for You: Free Course on Delivering Value
If this resonates with you – and you want to learn how to apply the Value Equation in your own work – Alexandra has generously made her free masterclass available to our listeners (link is in the show notes for the episode).
This course is packed with practical tools, templates, and insights that you can use immediately.
Final Thought: A Better Way to Work
In our conversation, Alexandra doesn’t mince words. She’s seen too many organizations drown in bureaucracy, waste talent, and burn out teams chasing poorly defined goals.
But she also believes in something better:
That we can create clarity.
That we can define real value.
That we can stop doing dumb sh*t – and start doing work that actually matters.
That’s the promise of Outcomes Thinking.
