A simple example is debugging code: a gears-level approach is to try and understand what the code is doing and why it doesn’t do what you want, a black-box approach is to try changing things somewhat randomly.
To drill in further, a great way to build a model of why a defect arises is using the scientific method. You generate some hypothesis about the behavior of your program (if X is true, then Y) and then test your hypothesis. If the results of your test invalidate the hypothesis, you’ve learned something about your code and where not to look. If your hypothesis is confirmed, you may be able to resolve your issue, or at least refine your hypothesis in the right direction.
There is some irony in the author’s insistence that Musk is excellent because of his exceptional software, not his hardware. How could the author possibly know this, or be able to separate out the effect of Musk’s raw intellectual horespower, and his critical reasoning skills?
I did find this post quite inspirational, although I do wonder how the author came up with the Want box / Reality box / strategy box model. It doesn’t seem like Musk explicitly gave this model to the author.