I’m not sure I understand what Allan is suggesting, but it feels pretty similar to what you’re saying. Can you perhaps explain your understanding of how his take differs from yours?
I believe he suggests that there is a large space that contains strategically important information. However, rather than first trying to structure that space and trying to find the questions with the most valuable answers, he suggests that researchers should just try their hand at finding anything of value. Probably for two reasons:
By trying to find anything of value, you get much more rapid feedback on whether you are good at finding information than by taking a longer time to find high-value information.
When there is a lot of information acquirable (‘low-hanging fruit’), it doesn’t matter as much where you start, as long as you start quickly.
In addition, he might believe that fewer people are good at strategy research than at tactics or informing research, and he might have wanted to give more generalizable advise.
I believe he suggests that there is a large space that contains strategically important information. However, rather than first trying to structure that space and trying to find the questions with the most valuable answers, he suggests that researchers should just try their hand at finding anything of value. Probably for two reasons:
By trying to find anything of value, you get much more rapid feedback on whether you are good at finding information than by taking a longer time to find high-value information.
When there is a lot of information acquirable (‘low-hanging fruit’), it doesn’t matter as much where you start, as long as you start quickly.
In addition, he might believe that fewer people are good at strategy research than at tactics or informing research, and he might have wanted to give more generalizable advise.