An escalation structure results from two or more competing entities with the competition taking them to somewhere none of them want to be.

The Limits to Growth Archetype demonstrates the manner in which initial growth may be slowed over time by a limiting factor.

A Fixes that Fail structure is one where the applied fix makes things better for a while and then things go awry.

An element of Perspectives: The Foundation of Understanding and Insights for Effective Action. Register at http://www.systemswiki.org/

With two different ways to address a situation with one being easier and faster which do you think gets implemented? The problem is that taking the easy path makes it harder to take the longer term solution.

The Accidental Adversaries structure represents a situation where two interacting entities which should produce growth unwittingly limit the growth of each other because of their actions to promote their own growth. See also Archetypes.

A shifting the burden structure occurs when there are different ways to address a situation. With one approach being easier, faster, and requiring fewer resources, which do you think gets pursued? The problem is that taking the easier path ensures one will have to take the easier path repeatedly, and makes it harder to pursue the long-term better solution. See also Archetypes.

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The Accidental Adversaries structure represents a situation where two interacting entities which should produce growth unwittingly limit the growth of each other because of their actions to promote their own growth. 

It's relatively well understood that you can't be all things to all people. Somewhere one has to make choices. An Attractiveness Principle Systems Archetype is essentially a Limits to Growth Systems Archetype with multiple limits, all of which can not be addressed equally.

Two goal seeking structures attempting to resolve and based on the delay one may tend to settle for less. See also Archetypes.

A Fixes that Fail structure is one where the applied fix makes things better for a while and then things go awry.

Understanding Relationship and Their Implications: The Essence of AND?

An escalation structure results from two or more competing entities with the competition taking them to somewhere none of them want to be.

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An escalation structure results from two or more competing entities with the competition taking them to somewhere none of them want to be.

In today's acquisition environment, where progress is sometimes measured by dollars spent, underspending is not a virtue. In fact, it can lead to having funds shifted to another program. From William E. Novak and  Linda Levine CMU SEI Sept 2010 Success in Acquisition: Using Archetypes to Beat the Odds paper and see webpage

An escalation structure results from two or more competing entities with the competition taking them to somewhere none of them want to be.

The goal seeking structure endeavors to bring a balance between a current state and a desired state. This is one of the two foundation archetypes. The other being the growth structure. See also Archetypes.

The limits to action structure endeavors to bring a balance between a current state and a desired state though more often than not there is some limit on the action.

An Addiction structure is the same as the Shifting the Burden structure though with the annoying aspect that one becomes addicted to the side effect ensuring that Fundamental Solution won't get implemented and the Symptomatic Solution will be applied repeatedly, and likely with greater frequency. There is a also a video for this insight which is a component of the Systems Thinking World Kumu e-Learning Environment.

A Fixes that Fail structure is one where the applied fix makes things better for a while and then things go awry.

Understanding Relationship and Their Implications: The Essence of AND?

Accidental Adversaries structure resulting from a situation where partners for growth end up acting in ways which limit each others success.

Success to the successful archetype represents two reinforcing structures which may be in a delicate balance though as soon as one gains a small advantage the resource allocation favors the more successful and the result is then rapidly skewed in the direction of the more successful.