Great article, powerful examples.

Too often we approach an assignment as if a problem exists in a vacuum and then develop a very specific targeted solution. Instead we should take a little time to look for the root cause or, as you say, discover in the bigger picture what we're trying to accomplish.

Sure, the final decision might be to develop a point solution, but as SAS professionals we add value by thinking about our assignments and, when appropriate, offering options instead of just the most obvious solution.