Whenever we attempt to mend the scheme of Providence and to interfere in the Government of the World, we had need be very circumspect lest we do more harm than Good. In New England they once thought Black‑birds useless and mischievous to their corn, they made Laws to destroy them, the consequence was, the Black‑birds were diminished but a kind of Worms which devoured their Grass, and which the Black‑birds had been used to feed on encreased prodigiously; Then finding their Loss in Grass much greater than their saving in corn they wished again for their Black‑birds. – Benjamin Franklin
http://www.systemswiki.org/index.php?title=Don’t_Just_Do_Somthing,_Stand_There!
A small high tech company experiencing sagging sales decides to ramp up its marketing efforts in the hopes of increasing sales and revenue. To their great relief the marketing effort actually begins to increase demand, and even better sales increase with an increase in revenue. Because things are moving in exactly the direction the organization wants they invest even more in marketing, which results in even greater demand, sales, and revenue. As this continues for some time the organization begins to think it’s found the magic formula for future success, and the organization continues to experience greater and greater success. Until that is, the organization begins to realize that additional marketing efforts are only producing marginal increases in demand, sales, and revenue. And, because the organization has learned the secret of success it focuses even harder on its marketing efforts, though things don’t seem to be improving. So what now?
http://www.systemswiki.org/index.php?title=The_Failure_of_Success
The “Ladder of Inference” was, I believe, initially developed by Chris Argyris, and subsequently presented by Senge (1990). While the “Ladder of Inference” is usually presented as a ladder it seems far more appropriate to present it as a circle. And the “Reflexive Loop” is then apparently a short circuiting of reality, though there are other insights to be gained.
http://www.systemswiki.org/index.php?title=Ladder_of_Inference:_Short_Circuiting_Reality
How often do we set out with the best of intentions only to have our actions unexpectedly foiled?
Farmers Markets: http://www.snipr.com/tewlo
An example of a Success to the Successful Systems Archetype demonstrating how easy it is to influence a result based on an initial belief, without ever realizing the result is being influenced by the belief.
Employee compensation for inept management practices is only sustainable for so long: http://snipr.com/teigh
The Prey/Predator Model recast as an Emergent Limits to Growth Structure.