# The Organizational Paradox We Refuse to See By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2024-12-31 Organizations exist in three simultaneous states that managers and analysts desperately try to resolve into a single narrative. "Organizations are better than ever. Organizations are awful. Organizations could be much better." (Note: this quote adapted from Max Roser's statement about the world). All three statements are true, yet we waste countless hours in conference rooms trying to prove only one of them. The analytics team is tasked with showing quarterly improvement while ignoring systematic failures. Leadership consultants sell the dream of organizational excellence while workers suffer through meaningless meetings. The truth is that modern organizations have achieved incredible things - connecting global supply chains, innovating technologies, and creating unprecedented wealth. Yet they simultaneously crush the human spirit, waste resources on performative work, and optimize for the wrong metrics. The potential for something better exists, but almost no one wants to hold these contradictions in their head at once. Instead, we pick our favorite narrative and build elaborate frameworks to justify it. Executives want to believe things are great, critics want to believe everything is terrible, and consultants want to sell the promise of better. The real opportunity lies in accepting all three states at once - but good luck putting that in your quarterly business review deck. Most organizations will continue to chase singular narratives while reality laughs at their PowerPoints. #### Related Items [[Organization]] [[Paradox]] [[Analytics]] [[Management]] [[Progress]] [[The Human Condition]] [[Business]]