Brilliantly put this one - "Most conversations about problems (and causes) are negotiations—negotiations about identity, reputation, controlling the narrative, and spheres of influence and control. People look for the "definition" they can live with and process."
This makes me think (again) of Russell Ackoff’s four levels of problem solving. The perspectives taken when discussing root causes are frequently “resolve” or “solve” conversations rather than “dissolve” conversations.
A lot of variables may not solve the problems and actually make it more complex, so as you said, the person takes the variables that may solve its problem.
Brilliantly put this one - "Most conversations about problems (and causes) are negotiations—negotiations about identity, reputation, controlling the narrative, and spheres of influence and control. People look for the "definition" they can live with and process."
Right, and it really comes down to going upstream, and not confusing external Symptoms with underlying Causes. Like Five Whys.
I highlighted the exact same chunk
This makes me think (again) of Russell Ackoff’s four levels of problem solving. The perspectives taken when discussing root causes are frequently “resolve” or “solve” conversations rather than “dissolve” conversations.
A lot of variables may not solve the problems and actually make it more complex, so as you said, the person takes the variables that may solve its problem.
LOVE IT! Love your digging into expanse! English is my second language and occasionally I do need to figure out where I should use "the" or "a".
A great framing. And almost a year to the day from "The Problem with Problems". Another of my favourite articles on problem definition & negotiation.