Upstream vs. Downstream Approach to Problem Solving
By: Dr. Hashim Alzain
Tags: Leadership Skills, Leadership Development, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Problem Solving

Upstream vs. Downstream Approach to Problem Solving

Upstream — Book Summary by Dan Heath

Ever wondered why Superman is more popular than Batman?

It’s a fact that Superman was created first in 1938, where Batman came later on in 1939, but that’s besides the point!

Could it be because Superman is the one who saves the day in broad daylight & receive recognition & admiration by many people, whereas Batman lurks in the shadows & tries to prevent crime from ever happening in the first place in stealth mode?

Or is it our perception to call on Superman to putout fires (Downstream thinking — Superman)? Or is it our desperation that Batman has done his job watching over the city by preventing problems from ever happening in the first place (Upstream thinking — Batman)?

So what’s the difference between upstream & downstream thinking? Is one better than the other?

Downstream approach deals with problems after they’ve occurred & the efforts are narrow, fast, and tangible.

Upstream approach deals with problems before they occur & the efforts are broader, slower, and hazier (but when it works; it really works!)

So is it a case of proactive vs. reactive approach?

So often in life, we get stuck in a cycle of response of putting out fires! We stay downstream, handling one problem after another, but we never make our way upstream to fix the systems that caused the problems to occurs in the first place! Cops chase robbers, and doctors treat patients with chronic diseases, and call-center reps address customer complaints. But crime and chronic disease and customer complaints are preventable! If that’s the case, why do our efforts skew so heavily toward reaction rather than prevention?

Simple, because Downstream approach is Easier to Measure!

Attributes of Downstream Thinking — Superman Approach

Reactive response

Easy to see

Easy to measure

Think in isolation

Attributes of Upstream Thinking — Batman Approach

Proactive response

Can’t see the impact!

Required an understanding of the purpose

System thinking

There are 3 barriers to upstream thinking:

1. Problem Blinders

(I Don’t See The Problem!)

The belief that negative outcomes are inevitable

Accepting the status quo

Don’t question things

Focus on doing instead of asking

2. Lack of Ownership

(The Problem isn’t Mine to Fix!)

It’s not my problem

Conflict of interest (favoring personal interest over that of the organization’s)

Psychological standing on challenging the status quo

Complacency & being comfortable with things the way the are

3. Tunneling

(I Can’t Deal with the Problem Right Now!)

Little problems mask bigger ones

Revert to quick-fixes

Using scarce resources as an excuse

Falling in love with the cycle

Where to go from here?

Here are 7 questions that upstream visionary leaders should ask:

How to unite the right people? How will the system change? Where to find the point of leverage? How to get early-warnings of the problems? How will success be measured? How to avoid doing harm? Who will pay for what does not happen?

Now, each of the 7 questions will be addressed to help guide visionary leaders on what to do.

1. How to unite the right people?

Have a clear vision & articulated with a sense of purpose.

Surround the problem.

Identify clear roles & responsibilities.

Meet the team briefly & periodically.

Use a structured approach to solve the problem.

2. How will the system change?

Systems are the source of information & should be questioned.

Modify the environment to accommodate for productive change.

Spark courage by tapping into feeling & emotions about the problem’s effects/impact.

Empower & motivate people by aligning their goals with that of the organization.

Change takes time, so patience is required.

3. Where to find the point of leverage?

Get closer to the source of the problem to identify where the money could be saved.

Identify risks & opportunity factors.

Perform a cost/benefit analysis.

Take it step-by-step using a phased-based approach to integrate new strategies into the existing system.

Accept failure as a learning process towards success (fail fast & early to learn how to develop & improve).

4. How to get early-warnings of the problems?

Evaluate the environment & deploy “Sensors — Smoke Detectors”.

Look for predictors in your environment.

Estimate the time required to act.

Become aware of false positives to avoid derailing you from your tracks.

Rely on digital information to implement rapid response.

Understand the consequences of your actions & implications.

5. How will success be measured?