In a simple world, blame, as a management technique, made sense. When you are on a one-dimensional production line, for example, mistakes are obvious, transparent and are often caused by a lack of focus. Management can reduce them by increasing the penalties for non-compliance. They can also send a motivational message by getting heavy once in a while. People rarely lose concentration when their jobs are on the line. But in a complex world this analysis flips on its head. In the world of business, politics, aviation and healthcare, people often make mistakes for subtle, situational reasons.
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