As I watched a crew ineffectively solve a problem, I wondered who is to blame. I also heard a lot of conjecture related to blame.
When a problem occurs, who is to blame?
Typically it is not one person or one event that is to blame, but instead, most problems are the result of systematic error. Patterns of corruption, irresponsibility, passivity, poor effort, ignorance, and lack of good vision or aim.
This is why forensics are so important--it is important to take time to evaluate a problem in all ways to determine the systematic errors that led to the problem.
First of all, problems are rarely solved well without a common vision. If the vision or mission is not agreed upon from the start, it's likely that no problem will be solved well.
For example, right now, I'm dealing with a simple family problem. We've been discussing the issue from many vantage points, but we haven't really discussed the mission--our collective vision about who we are as a family and why this is a problem. To go back to the vision or mission of any problem, is to clarify what everyone is really dealing with or talking about. Essentially, the vision and mission here, is to be a loving family that supports each other. The problem belongs to the greater arena of the challenges the pandemic is presenting for that mission, a challenge which makes it difficult for families to gather and enjoy each other's company and support one another in ways they are accustom to. Simply put, the pandemic forces us to plan and prepare with much greater detail and timeliness than in days past--it takes a much greater concerted effort to gather and support one another than in the past.
Then as you analyze a problem, rather than blame, you will find that often problems are not only due to the fact that the problem-makers forgot to focus on vision/mission first, but they also didn't craft a good problem solving process upfront. As I think back to the problem facing family togetherness during a pandemic, I recognize that one aspect of this problem is that we have not instituted a good process for how we work together to plan family gatherings. At this time, due to all the limitations, restrictions, and rules, we truly have to make good time to patiently plan together with all those limitations, restrictions, and rules on the table, and we have to recognize that the limitations, restrictions, and rules are a moving target--they change regularly, hence the communication and ability to pivot has to be more regular if we want to meet our vision/mission of being together in meaningful, positive ways.
So to solve problems well, you have to put the mission/vision upfront and then you need to create a process that matches the problem parameters well. For my small family issue--the parameters include the restrictions, limitations, and rules, up-to-date pandemic facts/knowledge, and the reality that this entire situation is a moving target thus the need to be flexible.
Once vision/mission and process are set. It is a good idea to have someone on hand to manage or facilitate the discussion--someone that holds people to the process set with the goal of solving the problem in a positive way that responds to the collective vision and mission. As I think of the big problem society is facing with back-to-school decisions, I think that decision makers have to think deeply about their vision/mission and then determine the best processes for decision making that take into account the restrictions, limitations, rules, knowledge, and facts related to the pandemic. The process needs to also include priorities which should be woven into the mission and vision. For almost any problem related to the pandemic, it seems that the first priority should be health and safety--why would anyone want to risk lives for a problem that is a relatively short-term situation when you consider the length of lives.
Vision/Mission first.
Process second
Following the process with a facilitator in place.
Coming to consensus with a solution.
Trying the solution out.
A process of review, analysis, reflection, and revision. Repeat regularly.
So, for almost all problems, there is never one person to blame. Typically the blame belongs to a lack of vision/mission, process, consensus, review, reflection, and revision.
I am going to apply this think to my small-time family pandemic-related issue today, and I hope that others will think about this with regard to the greater, more impactful problems they are trying to solve in their communities, organizations, and the country going forward.