I don't know if you've noticed, but our world is getting increasingly complex. Chaotic, even. The way we've always done things often seems to be more of a curse than blessing. Why is it that yesterday's best practices don't seem to have the same zip as before? Why do we need a new initiative every time the calendar says "August?" What happened to the last initiative??
Personally, I've always had a weird fascination with systems. That is, trying to figure out what larger force(s) might influence decisions. If you look for them, you'll see the influence of systems and other networks of decision-making models at play on every aspect of your life. Right now, I'm drinking an iced macchiato at 3 in the afternoon. The matrix for this decision is explicit and conscious: I had a half-price coupon plus bonus stars for coming in after 11a. Other times, the system is invisible. Ever found yourself driving significantly faster or slower than you usually do, unconsciously because the cars around you are driving approximately the same speed? Ever stopped to wonder why New Year's Resolutions don't stick? (How's your's going, by the way?) Easy : every system has bias.
Some are biased towards action. Others inaction. Some are explicitly biased (innocent until proven guilty by unanimous consent of 12 people) and other systems are more subversive. Bias doesn't have to be conscious to be present, but instead of trying to create an unbiased system (or hunt for Bigfoot), you should instead try to create a system biased in the way you want things to move.
For example, well, just take a look at how Google quietly and effectively reduced m&m consumption in its NYC offices. In fact, over 7 weeks, they cut 3.1 MILLION calories from their employees' diets. And not a single word was ever spoken asking people to stop eating m&ms. So the next time you're hoping to make a change, think more about the system and less about the marketing.
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