Systems Thinking Case Study #26:
Understanding why there is never enough manpower &
how we may do more with less ... eventually.
THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH MANPOWER
It has been over forty years and despite recruiting hundreds and thousands of persons, why
has this problem not yet become a thing of the past?

    NOW WE SEE A (SYSTEMIC) STRUCTURE, WITH SYSTEM-WIDE IMPACT OVER TIME AND SPACE, SOME
    THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

  1. WOULD YOU MAP YOUR STORY OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE SAME WAY OR DIFFERENTLY?  SHARE THIS WITH YOUR TEAM AND
    COLLEAGUES AND AMEND, ADD OR DELETE AS NEEDED TO MAKE IT RELEVANT FOR YOU.  JUST WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE - YOU
    ARE NOT DRIVING TOWARDS AN END THAT YOU DESIRE (MODEL I). YOU ARE MAPPING A REALITY AS THEY ARE ACTUALLY
    HAPPENING (TIP:  USE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS, "When this happens, it leads to that happening next?"  Do not say: "When this
    happens, I / we tend to do this!"  Respect reality).  HAVE FUN!
  2. WHERE DO YOU SEE IS THE LEVERAGE?  I HAVE DELIBERATELY NOT INCLUDED THOSE HERE.  CHECK UP THE ELEVEN LAWS OF
    THE FIFTH DISCIPLINE AND DISCUSS WITH YOUR TEAM TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THAT LEVERAGE FOR ALL OF YOU?  WHAT DID
    KNOWING THE LEVERAGE MEAN FOR YOU?  WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE TURNED THIS STRUCTURE AROUND TO BECOME
    A POSITIVE VIRTUOUS LOOP (VISION) FOR YOUR TEAM?  WHAT MIGHT GET IN THE WAY OF MAKING THESE HAPPEN?  WHAT ARE
    WE DOING TODAY TO STRENGTHEN (REDUCE THE IMPACT OF THESE) OR WEAKEN (INCREASE THEIR IMPACT) THIS
    STRUCTURE?
  3. WHAT KEEPS OUR CONVERSATIONS AWAY FROM LOOKING MORE LIKE THESE AND THEREFORE GETTING IN THE WAY OF SEEING
    THESE STRUCTURES MORE EASILY?

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INHERENT SYSTEMIC STRUCTURES:  REINFORCING LOOP