“But, this has worked, over and over for the past ten years. I am not sure why this project failed,” Jordan explained.
“First of all, the idea that originated ten years ago is not the same idea that has worked all along,” I replied. “You have modified and tweaked that idea each time there was a subtle shift in its application.”
Jordan was complaining. In this case, at this time, he would rather complain than consider a new idea he didn’t like.
“Each time you tweaked the idea,” I continued, “the shift was so subtle that you hardly noticed. And, your idea worked until it didn’t. Something has changed. Something has changed internally, externally or both. What was it?”
Our mutual friend, colleague, Lee Thayer used to call this “applying yesterday’s solution to today’s problem”.
Is there a version of this at every level of work and/role?
Hi, Bruce,
Yes, this is an all purpose principle so eloquently stated, every role, every level of work, every company, every healthcare organization, every community, every state, every nation.