The idea
Technical sophistication and problem-solving value are different. A simple model can isolate assumptions, create a baseline and expose where complexity is actually needed.
Situation
Sophisticated approaches are available before the basic problem is understood.
Useful when
Early experimentsarchitectureprototypesselecting models
Watch for
Simplicity is a starting strategy, not a belief that simple solutions are always sufficient.
Where this came from
Quantitative research, Machine learning