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現場から生まれた「社腸」という組織論で、会社の詰まりを言語化する

Case 49: When Feedback Loops Reinforce the Wrong Signals

Abstract visual representing organizational pathology and structural diagnosis

Concept Inversion

Feedback loops are assumed to correct errors.

They do not.

Feedback loops amplify whatever signal they are connected to.



Structural Decomposition

Systems rely on feedback loops to adjust behavior.

Outputs are measured.
Signals are generated.
Adjustments are made.

When signals are accurate, correction occurs.

However, when signals are distorted, feedback loops do not detect the error.

They reinforce it.

The system optimizes toward the signal.

The signal drifts further from reality.

Each cycle increases alignment with the wrong target.

Correction becomes amplification.



Pathology Progression

Signals are established.

Feedback loops are connected.

Initial adjustments improve performance.

Signal distortion begins.

Feedback reinforces the distortion.

Performance appears stable or improving.

Reality deteriorates.

Discrepancies grow.

The system becomes locked into misalignment.



Cold Diagnosis

An organization that cannot verify the validity of its signals will reinforce its own errors.

It becomes self-reinforcing in the wrong direction.



Structural Definition

This case defines a condition where feedback loops amplify incorrect or distorted signals instead of correcting them.

One-Line Summary

This case describes how feedback loops can reinforce error when connected to invalid signals.



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This article is part of the Organizational Pathology case archive.
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Organizational Pathology — Case Index