Taking the time to understand the problem

Back in the 80s I was in a position to watch a drama play out at a business that employed maybe 100 people. It specialized in assembly and packaging. An older gentleman walked in the door and approached the CEO. “ I am Mr Smith. I worked in Portland for many tears at $300,000 a year.  I had a series of heart attacks. My doctor told me to resign or die.  I need a hobby. I will keep you in all the business you can handle.  What I want in return is $20,000.00 a year and for you to stay out of my way.”   After the background check, he was hired for contract procurement.  I met him once.  I was in his office….he was smoking a cigar and reading a newspaper with his feet on his desk.  An employee entered and said “ We will be out of work on line 2 by tomorrow night.”  The gentleman got on the phone, “ Hi Bill, this is Jim. We need more work in 24 hours.” He hung up the phone… and went back to his cigar.  

For about 5 years the company thrived. The CEO moved on to another job.  The new CEO walked in the door, saw the gentleman smoking his cigar and reading his newspaper. “ I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you can put out that cigar, throw away that newspaper ,
And get to work.”   The gentleman put the cigar in his mouth, rolled up the newspaper under his arm and walked out the door.   The plant ceased operations within 6 months.

In a real sense, there are dangers to acting without fully understanding how the pieces interact.

I would just about bet money that new CEO went on to be CEO of yet another company...

I wonder the same.  Of course, the lessons learned can apply to Permaculture and homesteading as well.

Never remove a fence until you understand why it was there in the first place.

When I just got into a supervisory role at a plant, I spent the time watching and listening before I started to slowly introduce change. Well, at least try to influence change! There are a lot of unsaid or tribal knowledge things that keep a place running. If you don't have an appreciation for those things, success is a difficult thing to find.

John F Dean wrote:In a real sense, there are dangers to acting without fully understanding how the pieces interact.

Mid 70's, I was hired as a forklift mechanic in a rural agricultural area. While I was reasonably experienced with the nuts & bolts of the position, I was, admittedly,.. lacking in hydraulics savvy. A couple of months had passed, the local company sent me and a second mechanic to the regional HQ in SLC, Utah for an extensive hydraulics seminar.  When I entered the empty classroom, I immediately noticed a blackboard to my left. On it, in large handwritten print, it read.....

Successful Troubleshooting Requirements:

1. Understand the system.
2. List the symptoms.
3. List probable causes.
4. Verify suspected culprit(s).
5. Take corrective action.