Fixes that Fail

*A positive intent can often lead to negative outcomes when stakeholders don't understand systems."

The Fixes that Fail is one of the best ways to understand how systems thinking can help us understand the long-term consequences of short-term thinking.

Structure of Our Fixes that Fail Examples

Each of our Fixes that Fail examples have the following sections:

1. The Problem
2. The Quick Fix
3. Initial Success
4. The Unintended Consequences
5. The Larger Problem Emerges
6. The Vicious Cycle
7. The System Structure (Causal Loop Diagram)
8. The Root Cause Solution

Sample Causal Loop Diagram

Problem Symptom → Quick Fix → Temporary Relief → Unintended Consequences → Worse Original Problem

Here is a summary of our examples of the Fixes that Fail archetype:

Educational Examples

1. Grade Inflation
2. Banning Books
3. Cutting STEM
4. AI Training
5. Banning AI

General Business Examples

1. Corporate Layoffs
2. Mandated Return to Office

Healthcare Examples

Painkillers

Government Examples

1. Traffic Congestion
2. Security Theater

References

Wikipedia Page on Fixes That Fail

Prompt

Please generate a causal loop diagram JSON file for the "Fixes that Fail" archetype. Use the cld-schema.json for the structure of the file.

General Layout: The diagram has two loops.
Both loops contain only clockwise edges. Both loops share nodes "Problem" on the left and "Fix" on the right.

Top Loop: The top loop is a balancing loop called "Short Term Fix". It has "Problem" on the left and "Fix" on the right.

Bottom Loop: The bottom loop is a reinforcing loop.
It has "Problem" on the left, "Fix" in the right and "Consequences" at the bottom of the loop. The Consequences are unintended side effects that result from short term fixes.