Fixes that fail is a

system archetype System archetypes are patterns of behavior of a system. Systems expressed by circles of causality have therefore similar structure. Identifying a system archetype and finding the leverage enables efficient changes in a system. The basic system a ...

that in

system dynamics System dynamics (SD) is an approach to understanding the nonlinear behaviour of complex systems over time using stocks, flows, internal feedback loops, table functions and time delays. Overview System dynamics is a methodology and mathematical ...

is used to describe and analyze a situation, where a fix effective in the short-term creates

side effects In medicine, a side effect is an effect, whether therapeutic or adverse, that is secondary to the one intended; although the term is predominantly employed to describe adverse effects, it can also apply to beneficial, but unintended, consequence ...

for the long-term behaviour of the

system A system is a group of Interaction, interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole. A system, surrounded and influenced by its environment (systems), environment, is described by its boundaries, ...

and may result in the need of even more fixes.Senge, Peter M., "The Fifth Discipline" (1990). . This archetype may be also known as fixes that backfireFixes that backfire
Isee systems, 2006. Retrieved 2011-11-01 or corrective actions that fail.Flood, Robert L., "Rethinking The Fifth Discipline: learning within the unknowable" (1999). p. 19 It resembles the

Shifting the burden Shift may refer to: Art, entertainment, and media Gaming * ''Shift'' (series), a 2008 online video game series by Armor Games * '' Need for Speed: Shift'', a 2009 racing video game ** '' Shift 2: Unleashed'', its 2011 sequel Literature * ''Sh ...

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

feedback Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause-and-effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to ''feed back'' into itself. The notion of cause-and-effect has to be handled ...

loop that either worsens the original problem or creates a related one. In

this is described by a circles of causality (Fig. 1) as a system consisting of two

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.Kim, Daniel H., "Fixes that Fail: Why Faster is Slower," ''The Systems Thinker Newsletter,'' Vol. 10, No. 3 (Apr., 1999) A representation with a

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'' is measured at one specific time, and represents a quantity e ...

diagram of this

archetype The concept of an archetype (; ) appears in areas relating to behavior, historical psychology, and literary analysis. An archetype can be any of the following: # a statement, pattern of behavior, prototype, "first" form, or a main model that ot ...

is on Fig. 3. Ftfstockflow

The fix influences the number 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 number 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."Fixes That Fail Archetype
SystemsWiki, October 2010. Retrieved 2011-11-01 * "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 A lever is a simple machine consisting of a beam or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge, or ''fulcrum''. A lever is a rigid body capable of rotating on a point on itself. On the basis of the locations of fulcrum, load and effort, the lever is div ...

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

ROR Ror is a caste found primarily in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. In the parts of Baiswara in Uttar Pradesh that are inhabited by Ror people, Rors along with groups such as the Chauhans and Tomars are associated with Delhi and its outskirts. Occu ...

. :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 maintenance. : 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 table The water table is the upper surface of the zone of saturation. The zone of saturation is where the pores and fractures of the ground are saturated with water. It can also be simply explained as the depth below which the ground is saturated. T ...

drops. * Cash shortage : Situation: A person can't pay

interest In finance and economics, interest is payment from a borrower or deposit-taking financial institution to a lender or depositor of an amount above repayment of the principal sum (that is, the amount borrowed), at a particular rate. It is distinct ...

(for example on a

credit card A credit card is a payment card issued to users (cardholders) to enable the cardholder to pay a merchant for goods and services based on the cardholder's accrued debt (i.e., promise to the card issuer to pay them for the amounts plus the o ...

). : Fix: Take up a new

loan In finance, a loan is the lending of money by one or more individuals, organizations, or other entities to other individuals, organizations, etc. The recipient (i.e., the borrower) incurs a debt and is usually liable to pay interest on that d ...

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 revenues. : Fix: Increase the cigarette tax to raise more taxes. : Consequences: Smuggling of cigarettes develops and reduces the number of taxed cigarettes sold in the country. * Situation: A farm struggles with a fungal infection on some plants * Fix: Using more fungicides * Consequences: Fungus develops fungucide resistance, and the quantity to apply becomes even higher

References

{{Systems Engineering Risk management Operations research Complex systems theory

Description

Uses

Examples

See also

References