Models that can be translated into intuitive insights

“The authors argued that the models were so complex that their outputs could produce results that the unaided human brain could not possibly understand intuitively. Richard and I taught just the opposite. While a model can yield a result that might not have been obvious, an analyst’s job is not complete until he or she can decipher the intuition behind the unexpected result – and be able to explain it to decision and policy makers in plain language (maybe with the help of a diagram or two). Models whose results remain a mystery are not useful; models that can be translated into intuitive insights and be broadly understood can be useful”

Excerpt From: Dan Levy. “Maxims for Thinking Analytically: The wisdom of legendary Harvard Professor Richard Zeckhauser.”