Strategy / Product
Most failed solutions aren’t caused by a lack of intelligence.
They sound plausible.
They fail because:
- they treat a visible symptom
- they align with incentives people can see
- they feel responsible
That’s why they survive longer than they should.
In real systems, fixes collide with:
- incentives
- time pressure
- legacy decisions
- human behavior
If a solution only works when people behave perfectly, nothing else changes, and the environment stays stable, it isn’t a solution—it’s a temporary illusion.
Example
A product team optimizes for engagement metrics
and ends up building features people click—
not features that solve the problem.
The metric improves.
The outcome doesn’t.
What would your current fix have to survive once it meets reality?
Most fixes aren’t tested against reality.
They’re tested against assumptions.
Solve the right problem.