The Rubik's Cube
"At North Point Associates, we research people and businesses to provide clarity in a complex due diligence process."
Recently, my kids and I endeavored to learn how to solve the Rubik's Cube. We found that through a step-by-step process of prescribed moves, it is possible to consistently turn a jumbled block into the matched colored sides we had previously seen only immediately after removing a new cube from its packaging. Learning the process took time and was frustrating, as initial moves that are easily memorized gave way to more complicated algorithms. We are not setting speed-solving records, but we have achieved our underlying goal through persistence and a regular reference to handwritten cheat sheets.
At North Point Associates, we research people and businesses to make sense of their presence in the world. In completing Rubik’s Cube, I was reminded of the process we follow for our everyday work. Just as every cube is different, so is every project we are involved in, but by analyzing variables through a consistent research process, we align details and identify outliers that require additional consideration to solve. Through our work, we provide clarity, and although our solutions may not always be ideal from a deal perspective, our finished product provides a foundation for decision-making based on a clear understanding of what can be known.
We are particularly adept at something known in the cube world as a fringe scenario. Despite properly executing the process, a block remains out of place. A green block is in the top corner where a red block must go. To rectify this, you must have the knowledge base to understand that an issue exists and know the necessary steps to iron it out.
The situation is the same when, through our research, we identify a notable detail that is out of place. An individual seems to have simultaneously held two full-time positions, or a company with a history of financial success has recently lost one of its founding members. North Point Associates analysts have the experience and dogged determination to root out these fringe issues, to explain their potential meaning, and to help our clients avoid post-close surprises.
If you need information on a business or individual that exceeds the industry standard, North Point Associates can provide a solution. You can reach out to us directly via email to pam.harght@northpointassoc.com.
If you want to make sense of the Rubik’s Cube, I recommend the following tutorial (https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-solve-a-rubiks-cube-step-by-step/).
About the Author
Ross Elwyn is a Managing Director at North Point Associates and oversees a team of research analysts for our core due diligence research as well as voice of customer research. Ross is a licensed attorney with experience in civil litigation and degrees from the University of New Hampshire and a Doctor of Law (JD) and Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School.
