Sterman gives the example of debates over “zero-emission” electric cars.
They are not, in fact, “zero-emission” within a systems perspective, if they draw their electricity from an energy grid composed largely of polluting coal plants. And even if the power is generated in, say, solar farms, there’s the cost to the planet of the emissions of greenhouse gases in manufacturing the solar panels and the powering of their supply chain.
One of the worst results of system blindness occurs when leaders implement a strategy to solve a problem—but ignore the pertinent system dynamics.
“It’s insidious,” says Sterman. “You get short-term relief, and then the problem comes back, often worse than before.”
— Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence (Daniel Goleman), Loc. 1888–94