Module 2/4 28 min
Drawing the feedback loop
Step 1 / 2·Two kinds of loop
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Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Tell a reinforcing loop from a balancing loop
- Draw a feedback diagram for a real problem
- Identify which loop is driving the outcome
Learn ~12 min
Two kinds of loop
Recognise the type so you can predict the system's behaviour.
Reinforcing and balancing loops
| Reinforcing loop | Balancing loop | |
|---|---|---|
| Behaviour | Gets stronger the longer it runs, in both good and bad directions | Pulls the system back to some level, resisting change |
| Positive example | Strong people attract strong people, the team improves, and becomes more attractive still | Workload rises so you hire, bringing the load back to something bearable |
| Negative example | A strong person leaves, load falls on those remaining, and the next one leaves too | Every culture-change effort drifts back to the old habits within a few months |
| What to do | Intervene early — the longer it runs the harder it is to reverse | Find what is holding that level, rather than pushing harder |
Pushing harder against a balancing loop is wasted effort
If a change keeps drifting back, pushing harder achieves nothing. You have to find what is holding the system at the old level — usually a target, a reporting habit, or a resource allocation nobody has touched.