Fixing Systems

Everyone fixes systems as part of their daily lives. It's what we do. A part of the human condition. But fixing other people's systems is a much harder thing to do, because they think they've already fixed their systems. Getting grandpa to put the dishes in the dishwasher in a new way. For some reason these things become intensely personal and create family arguments and resentments.

In business people who fix systems get nicknames like "the iron lady." That's because another part of the human condition is that people don't like change. But systems must be fixed and improved. Every day.


Fastcompany last August published an article on Fixing Washington D.C.'s School System. It follows Michelle Rhee, the chancellor of D.C. Public Schools and offers some timely reminders about managing underperforming systems.

According to the article she has her ideas written out clearly for everyone to see, she loves data, she hates inefficiency, she wants simple evidence of better performance, and above all she takes risks and decisive action.

In difficult times decisive and often painful action is difficult to take. For news organizations it's hard to imagine there's every been a time when it was more important to take decisive action.

Those who take action and succeed will be remembered. Those who take action and fail will be reviled by some and respected by others for having tried. Those who try to keep things going as they are will be forgotten.