The Size-Importance Fallacy

One damaging misconception is that bigger, more complex tools are inherently more valuable than smaller, simpler ones. This hierarchical thinking contradicts systems theory:

• Small changes in the right places (leverage points) often produce the most significant improvements
• Size and complexity have zero correlation with importance in well-designed systems
• The "salience bias" causes us to focus on prominent features while ignoring less conspicuous but potentially more impactful ones
• The performance of a system depends on how parts interact, not how each performs independently