Growth and Underinvestment with a Drifting Standard

A Growth and Underinvestment with a Drifting Standard structure is simply an elaborated Growth and Underinvestment structure where the growth inhibitor induces a decline of the standard over time. The real nasty thing about this structure is that the growth inhibitor influence sets up a Reinforcing Loop which even further promotes a drifting of the standard over time.

The growing action which initiates this structure influences an increase in the growth. The resultant growth then simply influences more of the same growing action, producing the reinforcing growth characteristic.

As was indicated in the Balancing Loop areas of concern, nothing growth forever. Growth sooner or latter produces some affect which tends to limit the growth. As growth moves in the desired direction it also influences an increase in some growth inhibitor. This growth inhibitor subsequently impedes the growth.

This system can be enabled to grow more if the growth inhibitor is reduced. As the growth inhibitor interacts with a defined standard it develops a perceived need for action to develop some sort of inhibitor avoidance. This inhibitor avoidance will, after some delay, reduce the growth inhibitor. The annoying part of this structure is the delay associated with the inhibitor avoidance interaction with the growth inhibitor.

What happens is that the growth inhibitor works in a shorter time frame reducing growth. The reduced growth adds less to the growth inhibitor thus eliminating the perceived need. As such the system is limited in its growth because the perceived need for action is actually undermined by the systems own actions. By the time it is realized that inhibitor avoidance action needs to be taken the need dissolves itself and growth levels off at a level much lower than what could have been achieved.

And with the additional influence where the growth inhibitor subtracts from the standard the result is even less of a perceived need for inhibitor avoidance.

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Copyright © 2004 Gene Bellinger