Fixes That Fail

Have you noticed how often your intentions go awry? You set out to fix a problem and shortly thereafter you find yourself fixing the same problem again, and again. This is most often the result of a fixes that fail structure, or a more intricate variation on the same theme.

A fixes that fail structure consists of a balancing loop which is intended to achieve a particular result, yet the result is foiled by an insidious reinforcing loop. These two loops interact in such a way that the desired result initially produced by the balancing loop is, after some delay, negated by the actions of the reinforcing loop.

The internal balancing loop operates in the standard balancing loop fashion. The action that adds to the migration of the current state toward the desired state also influences, after some delay, some unexpected consequences. These unexpected consequences subsequently impede the migration of the current state in the intended direction.

What makes this structure so annoying is that the time delay associated with the unexpected consequences may be such that it is most difficult to really see what's happening. The fact that it is a reinforcing loop means that its impact may initially be small and only grows to be noticed over time. You fix a problem and think things are fine, then days, weeks, or even months later the same problem is back again. And, with the hectic nature of organizations, who can remember what happened months ago.

Effective Strategies

• The most effective strategy for dealing with this structure is advance planning. Since you can never do just one thing, as everything affects everything else, before taking action to change the current state, think about what else that action is apt to affect. And, what affect with the affect will have. Sometimes the unexpected consequences may be several affects away, so don't stop at just one. Essentially what one seeks to do is identify the unexpected, which means it's no longer unexpected then is it.
  
  
• A less effective strategy would be to figure out how to disconnect the unexpected consequence from influencing the current state in time. Of course then it wouldn't be a consequence would it.

Areas of Concern

• A fixes that fail structure is often part of a more elaborate structure in which the fixes that fail structure simply represents dealing with the symptoms rather than the underlying real problem. For additional insights into this situation see: Shifting the Burden.
  
  
• A fixes that fail structure often results in becoming dependent on the fix, thus applying it over and over. For additional information into this situation see: Addiction.
  
  
• A fixes that fail structure may also be part of a larger structure wherein cooperative influences are unintentionally responsible for creating problems for each other. For additional insights into this situation see: Accidental Adversaries.

Examples

• Simulation Examples
• Tax Revenue Pressure
• Road Congestion
• Quest for Water
• Perpetuating Poverty