The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies for Building a Learning Organization

particularly promising to begin with the budgeting process: Why was it designed in this form? What was its purpose? Two useful techniques for this are “Double-loop Accounting” (see page 286) and the “Destiny Factor and History Chart” (see page 341).

three simultaneous patterns of behavior in a “Shifting the Burden” situation. The quick fix continues upward, especially with the onset of addiction. The symptom oscillates; sometimes up, sometimes down, but…

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you develop a theory or hypothesis that makes sense, is logically consistent, and could—if accurate—explain why the system is generating the problems you see.

Typically, there has been a boom—an acceleration of growth and performance, usually the result of your hard work. But the growth mysteriously levels off. Your natural reaction is to increase the same efforts that worked so well before. But now, the harder you push, the harder the system seems to push back.

The point of this exercise is not to settle on any of these statements as “right” or “wrong.” In fact, you should try to refrain from criticizing any of them

Use this archetype to distinguish between true “tragedies of the commons” and situations where you “shift the burden” of a painful decision to the next level up. It’s a true “tragedy” if the incentives at the individual level must work at cross-purposes when you look at the collective outcome.

there must be an overriding legislation for the common good, mandating some common goal or focal point.

begin talking about the problem; to plant stakes

If possible, support only the long-term solution; overlook the symptoms and “go cold turkey” on your addiction. If you must address the problem symptoms right away, do so with restraint.