# Solving or Working on Problems By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-02-02 It is unclear if organizations want to solve or work on problems. Most people approach work as if working on a problem is an important part of solving the problem on which they are working. In some respects, this is accurate; any eventual solution to the problem would require work to resolve it. However, one could perpetually work on a problem and be far from solving it after a lifetime of effort. Again, most people within an organization quickly push a thought like this out of their minds. They would rather assume that working on the problem is contributing to solving it. But if they solved the problem, what would they do? Organizations that exist to “do good” want to continue doing good. Such an organization could find other areas of good to pursue, or they could disband. Organizations, like humans, have a pronounced tendency toward self-preservation. As such, an organization is more likely to expand its mission than to close. Of course, maybe an organization exists not to solve problems but simply to help and improve things. There is a great deal of hardship in this society. Having organizations that are focused on making things better can address significant needs within the community. However, addressing these needs without resolving them perpetuates them indefinitely. One can feed those who are hungry but can’t feed an individual out of poverty. Irradicating poverty is a solution to many problems within our society. It can be solved, at least in an absolute sense, though relatively, people will always be more or less better off in some capacity. There is an important and real distinction between being relatively worse off and being impoverished. Does our society want to irradicate poverty? So much data suggests the answer is no. Perhaps working on this problem is too fulfilling to solve it ever. #### Related Items [[Problem Solving]] [[Work]] [[Poverty]] [[Organization]] [[Progress]] [[Society]]