Why Troubleshooting is so Hard

Troubleshooters are often sent in from a higher level, or even HQ, when persistent problems start becoming unendurable or embarrassing. However, any manager can (in principle) troubleshoot—so why don't they?

Resolving any persistent issue requires appropriate inquiry-PH'2. Just think about it: if the matter were simple and its nature self-evident, it would have been solved long ago.

So troubleshootersmust inquire i.e. determine the nature of the issue, discover its ramifications, investigate implications of possible solutions, appreciate diverse views. In doing that, it rapidly becomes evident that the issue is actually a system of inter-connected problems—technically, «a mess».

There is only one inquiring system that suits complex systems: the holistic-PH'2L5 which is based on system modelling.

The typology of Research Methods PH'2 is a THEE framework posted here. Relevant academic publications can be downloaded, however subsequent studies found errors in these. The 7 paradigms and the underpinning research principles according to latest analyses are shown Closedhere ►

Rather few people anywhere are natural systems inquirers-PH'2L5, and even fewer of these are employed as line-managers in conventional organizations. They tend to gravitate to HQ.

So we should not be surprised that idiosyncratic issues crossing many boundaries often resist intervention. They simply fester. Eventually they may disappear as a by-product of other organizational changes, or when force majeure is applied (e.g. disposal or closure of the business unit).

ClosedSupervision is simple and gets simplified.

Supervision requires expertise but in human terms it is simple. On many matters, supervisors either generate rapid pragmatic solutions and report the situation to a line manager, or they find work-arounds and say nothing.

Supervision is commonly further simplified by provision of a handbook. The handbook categorizes likely events, especially common and serious ones, and specifies what actions and procedures should be followed in each case. There may even be a decision-tree relating to handling reactions or states that may follow intervention, or instructions about timing for handling any problem.

Originally posted: 20-Oct-2011; last updated: 16-Jun-2023.