Could a Business Be Solving Symptoms While the Cause Grows Stronger?
A recurring problem is often a clue disguised as an inconvenience.
Sometimes. Repeatedly fixing visible problems can distract attention from their underlying source.
A company repeatedly apologizes for delayed deliveries and offers compensation to customers.
The hidden mechanism is symptom substitution. The organization focuses on the visible outcome instead of the process creating it.
A micro-scene illustrates the trap: every week, customer support solves the same complaint, yet warehouse bottlenecks remain unchanged.
A problem becomes expensive when its solution prevents people from discovering its cause.
