System traps can lead to undesired outcomes from "summary" of Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows
Systems traps are inherent in complex systems, which are composed of multiple interconnected elements that interact with each other. These traps can lead to unintended consequences that may not be immediately apparent. One such trap is the "policy resistance," where efforts to improve a system can actually worsen the situation. This occurs when a system's feedback loops respond in unexpected ways to interventions, leading to counterproductive outcomes. Another system trap is the "drift to low performance," where a system gradually deteriorates over time due to reinforcing feedback loops that magnify small deviations from the desired state. This can result in a gradual decline in the system's ability to achieve its goals, despite the best intenti...
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