Module 1/4 26 min
Why today's solution becomes next quarter's problem
Step 1 / 2·Three common mechanisms
0/2 steps done
Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Recognise the three backfire mechanisms
- Tell a symptom from a cause
- Notice when you are treating a symptom
Learn ~14 min
Three common mechanisms
Put names to things you have seen but could not name.
A decision that is sensible at department level can produce a worse outcome for the organisation as a whole. Not because anyone miscalculated, but because the system has connections the decision-maker cannot see while looking only at their own part.
Three mechanisms with examples
| Mechanism | How it plays out | Example in HR |
|---|---|---|
| Shifting the burden | A quick fix eases the symptom, so nobody has a reason to address the cause, and the capability to address it withers | Short of people, so you outsource. The more you outsource, the less you invest in internal development, and the shorter of people you really are |
| Local optimisation | Each department optimises its own measure and the whole gets worse | Recruitment optimises time-to-hire and lowers the bar to close roles faster. First-year attrition rises and the total number of roles to fill goes up |
| Feedback delay | The consequence appears so late that nobody connects it to the cause | Cut the training budget this year; two years later there is no succession bench — and nobody traces it back to the old decision |
The sign you are treating a symptom
The same problem returns on a cycle, each time needing a bigger fix than last time. If you are outsourcing more this year than last for the same kind of work, that is not rising demand — it is internal capability withering.