#system #unintented-consequences #policy #systemic-failure

idea

A policy in a system can have unintended consequences - effects caused by the policy, but that were not the desired outcome.

These can be plainly opposed to the desired outcome (e.g. Cobra effect) in which case they are called perverse incentives

perverse incentives of Amazon LPs

• ownership: don't voice any concerns that are not yours or you'll have to own the solution
• think big: we can't release until we have the final iteration because iteration 1 is not big enough

perverse incentives of dates as a control mechanism

• not willing to prioritize a small impactful change the customer wants in fear of missing a virtual deadline

links

references

• Wikipedia / Unintended consequences -

  In the social sciences, unintended consequences (sometimes unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences) are outcomes of a purposeful action that are not intended or foreseen. The term was popularised in the twentieth century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton.[1]

  Unintended consequences can be grouped into three types:

  • Unexpected benefit: A positive unexpected benefit (also referred to as luck, serendipity or a windfall).
  • Unexpected drawback: An unexpected detriment occurring in addition to the desired effect of the policy (e.g., while irrigation schemes provide people with water for agriculture, they can increase waterborne diseases that have devastating health effects, such as schistosomiasis).
  • Perverse result: A perverse effect contrary to what was originally intended (when an intended solution makes a problem worse).

• Wikipedia / cobra effect is a perverse consequence