Blame Quote by Erik Hollnagel
““Yet by assigning blame or pointing to specific causes we disregard the fact that the whole system only worked because everyone made approximate adjustments to their work.””
About This Quote
Blaming individuals ignores that system performance depends on collective, approximate adjustments.
In simple terms: Systems work through collective effort, not blame.
Key Takeaway
Focus on systemic improvement.
Themes
systems
collaboration
adjustments
responsibility
cause
Mood
analytical
critical
thoughtful
Type
Blame:1
Assigning Blame:0
Blame Pointing:0
Causes Disregard:0
Adjustments Work:1
When to use this quote
- project management
- process improvement
- team dynamics
Key Concepts
systems theory
organizational behavior
complexity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you foster collective responsibility?
- What are the limits of individual blame?
A Different Perspective
Changing a whole system is hard.
