Managers are not confronted with problems which are independent of each other, but with dynamic situations that consists of complex systems of changing problems that interact with each other. I call such situations messes … Managers do not solve problems, they manage messes.
– Russell Ackoff, Operations Theorist
Hehe I’m literally the first reply to this awesome read!
The post speaks to my theory of “Monkey Management”. A monkey is defined as an unmanageable situation or problem that a person “owns” but would ether like you to help them with or you to take over completely. (Like caring for a monkey?) Your job as a manager is to reject their Monkey and give them two of yours to resolve.