In a world where complexity seems to grow by the day, simplifying is not a necessity but a lever for success. The company motto &Act with Simplicity' perfectly embodies this philosophy. In an age filled with fascinating technological innovations and global challenges, effectiveness comes not from managing complication, but from the ability to transform what is complex into something clear and understandable. This motto is a simple summary of the approach that guides action within the organization.

According to Max Panaro – Vice President Group Organization, ICT, System Quality at MAIRE – %The focus of this Motto is the word "Act", and simplicity is a means for an organization to succeed in accomplishing incredibly complex feats. Our job is to make things happen that few in the world know how to do, and to ensure that this remains our strength, we must continue to make even the most complicated things simple and accessible. This is one of the main responsibilities of all levels of our management: to make things happen, things must be managed with simple rules that are transparent to all. We must avoid using complexity as an alibi for "inaction". & The message is clear: simplification facilitates action and makes it quick and effective. In a large company where thousands of people work together on projects that can be worth billions, the best way to make sure everyone knows what to do is to make everything as simple as possible.

Panaro cites several examples, including one from Steve Jobs "Simple can be harder than complex) to explain how crucial this approach is: "Indeed, this ability to simplify has enabled our organization to take on enormous challenges and to implement mega-projects on a global scale. Simplicity is an investment in ensuring that each team member can act in an efficient and coordinated manner toward common goals."

Is it that simple to simplify? Panaro finds a parallel in the logical-metaphysical thinking at the basis of scientific thought in science, explaining that "To simplify is not to trivialize, but to transform knowledge into tools for others so that they can use them to act. In 1905 Einstein summarized a particularly complex principle with the formula E=mc2, making it possible for those who understand it to use it as a reference in their work. The relationship between mass and energy enabled Fermi to build the first nuclear fission reactor in 1942. & Similarly, the organization must adopt processes and procedures for managing complexity that are understandable and accessible to all those who need them to do their work. % If we did not always keep Occam's razor handy to make things understandable "Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem), we would not be able to make sure that the nine thousand people who work on our projects know what they need to do each morning and that each year they are able to carry out more complex projects."

Simplicity is a lever for transparency that counteracts isolation and individualism. For Panaro, collaboration is an integral part of this approach. "Act with Simplicity means working together to achieve common goals. Simplicity allows everyone to act together, in the same direction." The overall result is a glue that unites individual action with collective action, enabling everyone to work in unison.

A key element in ensuring simplicity are corporate procedures and responsibilities. Panaro stresses that these must be robust and user-friendly: "Just as the universal law of gravitation tells us what happens when we drop an object, in business it must be the same. Procedures allow everyone to act. Along these same lines, though there are those who think it is the Sun that orbits the Earth, or argue that F=MxA does not fully explain the perihelion precession of the planets' orbits, we have defined responsibilities and processes that work well in our "system of reference"... we can tolerate 43 arcseconds per century of error on Mercury's orbit and move forward toward our goals. & This is the operational clarity that enables the coordination of the different actors in the organization to achieve goals and meet deadlines.

Ultimately, for Panaro, "Act with Simplicity" is a true management practice. It is what makes it possible to tackle complex challenges without giving in to complication that brings action to a halt. "Managers who simplify, write, comply and enforce procedures are the ones who make a difference in the company. Applied simplicity is what enables us to accomplish particularly complicated things," concludes Panaro, highlighting how crucial the managerial frontline is in interpreting and applying simplification. In a world where complexity can be the alibi for holding back innovation and action, it is through simplicity and transparency that we can continue to make difficult things happen, and make them happen well.