Fixes that fail
Encyclopedia
Fixes that fail is a system archetype that in system dynamics
is used to describe and analyze a situation, where a fix effective in the short-term creates side effects
for the long-term behaviour of the system
and may result in the need of even more fixes. This archetype may be also known as fixes that backfire or corrective actions that fail. It resembles the Shifting the burden archetype.
loop that either worsens the original problem or creates a related one.
In system dynamics
this is described by a circles of causality
(Fig. 1) as a system consisting of two feedback
loops. One is the balancing feedback
loop B1 of the corrective action, the second is the reinforcing feedback
loop R2 of the unintended consequences. These influence the problem with a delay and therefore make it difficult to recognize the source of the new rise of the problem.
Representation of the long-term disadvantages of the scenario can be seen on Fig. 2. Although the symptoms go through a decrease when fixes are applied, the overall crisis threshold rises.
A representation with a stock and flow
diagram of this archetype
is on Fig. 3.
The fix influences the amount of problems present in the system proportionally to the fix factor and the problems to be resolved. When activated by the action variable, the fix lowers the problems, thus creating a balancing loop. However, each fix also starts a delayed consequence which adds to the problems proportionally to the consequence factor and the fix applied. Combined, these create a growing amount of problems to be dealt with.
Some typical ways of thinking associated with the pattern are:
They can serve as a warning that this archetype is present or will be.
If this pattern is recognized, then there are multiple possibilities how to react, depending on which lever
age point is addressed:
System dynamics
System dynamics is an approach to understanding the behaviour of complex systems over time. It deals with internal feedback loops and time delays that affect the behaviour of the entire system. What makes using system dynamics different from other approaches to studying complex systems is the use...
is used to describe and analyze a situation, where a fix effective in the short-term creates side effects
Unintended consequence
In the social sciences, unintended consequences are outcomes that are not the outcomes intended by a purposeful action. The concept has long existed but was named and popularised in the 20th century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton...
for the long-term behaviour of the system
System
System is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole....
and may result in the need of even more fixes. This archetype may be also known as fixes that backfire or corrective actions that fail. It resembles the Shifting the burden archetype.
Description
In a "fixes that fail" scenario the encounter of a problem is faced by a corrective action or fix that seems to solve the issue. However, this action leads to some unforeseen consequences. They form then a feedbackFeedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
loop that either worsens the original problem or creates a related one.
In system dynamics
System dynamics
System dynamics is an approach to understanding the behaviour of complex systems over time. It deals with internal feedback loops and time delays that affect the behaviour of the entire system. What makes using system dynamics different from other approaches to studying complex systems is the use...
this is described by a circles of causality
Causal loop diagram
A causal loop diagram is a causal diagram that aids in visualizing how interrelated variables affect one another. The diagram consists of a set of nodes representing the variables connected together...
(Fig. 1) as a system consisting of two feedback
Feedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
loops. One is the balancing feedback
Negative feedback
Negative feedback occurs when the output of a system acts to oppose changes to the input of the system, with the result that the changes are attenuated. If the overall feedback of the system is negative, then the system will tend to be stable.- Overview :...
loop B1 of the corrective action, the second is the reinforcing feedback
Positive feedback
Positive feedback is a process in which the effects of a small disturbance on a system include an increase in the magnitude of the perturbation. That is, A produces more of B which in turn produces more of A. In contrast, a system that responds to a perturbation in a way that reduces its effect is...
loop R2 of the unintended consequences. These influence the problem with a delay and therefore make it difficult to recognize the source of the new rise of the problem.
Representation of the long-term disadvantages of the scenario can be seen on Fig. 2. Although the symptoms go through a decrease when fixes are applied, the overall crisis threshold rises.
A representation with a stock and flow
Stock and flow
Economics, business, accounting, and related fields often distinguish between quantities that are stocks and those that are flows. These differ in their units of measurement. A stock variable is measured at one specific time, and represents a quantity existing at that point in time , which may have...
diagram of this archetype
Archetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
is on Fig. 3.
The fix influences the amount of problems present in the system proportionally to the fix factor and the problems to be resolved. When activated by the action variable, the fix lowers the problems, thus creating a balancing loop. However, each fix also starts a delayed consequence which adds to the problems proportionally to the consequence factor and the fix applied. Combined, these create a growing amount of problems to be dealt with.
Uses
As an archetype, it helps to gain insight into patterns that are present in the system and thereby also give the tools to change these patterns. In the case of "Fixes that fail", the warning sign is a problem which reappears although fixes were applied. It is crucial to recognize that the fix only adds to the overall deteriorating state and does not solve the problem. To identify this pattern, it is needed to consider a connection between the symptoms and the fixes we apply to solve them, which can be very difficult to do. In management this can be present as a "hero-scapegoat" cycle. While the manager who applied the fix gets promoted for diminishing the problem. A new manager must face the returning problem symptom and may be punished for failing to do his job. Then a new hero is found who temporarily solves the problem symptoms. The delay of the reinforcing loop makes it difficult to recognize the causal relation between the fix applied to the symptoms and the new problems arising. What then seems to be a series of successes in short-term then are steps towards failure on the long-term.Some typical ways of thinking associated with the pattern are:
- "It always seemed to work before; why isn't it working now?"
- "This is a simple problem and the solution is straightforward."
- "We need to fix this problem now. We can deal with any consequences later."
They can serve as a warning that this archetype is present or will be.
If this pattern is recognized, then there are multiple possibilities how to react, depending on which lever
Lever
In physics, a lever is a rigid object that is used with an appropriate fulcrum or pivot point to either multiply the mechanical force that can be applied to another object or resistance force , or multiply the distance and speed at which the opposite end of the rigid object travels.This leverage...
age point is addressed:
- Focus on the long-term and if a fix is inevitably needed, use it only to buy time to work on the long-term remedy.
- Raise awareness of the unintended consequences of the fixes.
- Focus on the underlying problem and not the symptoms.
- Find either a fix without consequences or with limited long-term impact.
- Find a way to measure the intended and also unintended consequences of the solutions by learning also from the past fixes.
- Change the performance review time so that the long-term progress becomes visible.
Examples
A few common examples of the pattern. The situation describes always the starting point to which a fix is applied. This bears then the consequences which are confronted again with a new fix.- Maximizing ROR
- Situation: A manufacturing company becomes successful with high-performance parts, and its CEO wants to maximize the RORRate of returnIn finance, rate of return , also known as return on investment , rate of profit or sometimes just return, is the ratio of money gained or lost on an investment relative to the amount of money invested. The amount of money gained or lost may be referred to as interest, profit/loss, gain/loss, or...
. - Fix: Refusal of investment in expensive, new production machines.
- Consequences: The product quality drops and therefore the sales of it.
- Cutting back maintenance
- Situation: The company needs to save money.
- Fix: Decrease the amount of maintenanceMaintenance, Repair and OperationsMaintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...
. - Consequences: More breakdowns of the equipment, higher costs and cost-cutting pressure.
- Quest for water
- Situation: Farmers are confronted with water shortage.
- Fix: Drilling new wells or making the old ones deeper.
- Consequences: The water tableWater tableThe water table is the level at which the submarine pressure is far from atmospheric pressure. It may be conveniently visualized as the 'surface' of the subsurface materials that are saturated with groundwater in a given vicinity. However, saturated conditions may extend above the water table as...
drops.
- Cash shortage
- Situation: A person can't pay interestInterestInterest is a fee paid by a borrower of assets to the owner as a form of compensation for the use of the assets. It is most commonly the price paid for the use of borrowed money, or money earned by deposited funds....
(for example on a credit cardCredit cardA credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
). - Fix: Take up a new loanLoanA loan is a type of debt. Like all debt instruments, a loan entails the redistribution of financial assets over time, between the lender and the borrower....
to pay the interest (a new credit card). - Consequences: There is more interest to pay next time.
- Tax revenue shortage
- Situation: A government is not satisfied with its tax revenueTax revenueTax revenue is the income that is gained by governments through taxation.Just as there are different types of tax, the form in which tax revenue is collected also differs; furthermore, the agency that collects the tax may not be part of central government, but may be an alternative third-party...
s. - Fix: Increase the cigarette tax to raise more taxes.
- Consequences: Smuggling of cigarettes develops and reduces the amount of taxed cigarettes sold in the country.
See also
- The Fifth DisciplineThe Fifth DisciplineThe Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization is a book by Peter Senge focusing on group problem solving using the systems thinking method in order to convert companies into learning organizations...
- System DynamicsSystem dynamicsSystem dynamics is an approach to understanding the behaviour of complex systems over time. It deals with internal feedback loops and time delays that affect the behaviour of the entire system. What makes using system dynamics different from other approaches to studying complex systems is the use...
- Organizational learningOrganizational learningOrganizational learning is an area of knowledge within organizational theory that studies models and theories about the way an organization learns and adapts....
- Limits to GrowthLimits to GrowthThe Limits to Growth is a 1972 book modeling the consequences of a rapidly growing world population and finite resource supplies, commissioned by the Club of Rome. Its authors were Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jørgen Randers, and William W. Behrens III. The book used the World3 model to...