The Device Is Not The Master

Like multicellular organisms, societies form organs dedicated to function, usually out of a need to make coordination efficient. Unlike organisms, societies can usually easily survive the death of an organ so long as the function is still met elsewhere. One failure mode of societies is confusing the Device for the Master.

The operator of a device uses it to get an outcome. The device's purpose is creating the outcome. The operator's objective is the outcome, not the use of the device. This failure mode is pronounced in organs that are authorities. For instance, American police are rulers of non-police citizens - they command and require obedience out of power^[1]. By comparison, British police are intended to be citizens fulfilling a function - that of ensuring order. An American obeys a policeman; a British man permits a policeman to be a mediator of dispute^[2].

Organizations frequently fail in this manner. A security officer kills a crucial feature or an over-strict compliance team fails to approve something in time. Granting these offices power is a mistake. They are expert agents but command does not rest with them. They must be disregarded and overridden where required. It's worth remembering that the most secure operating system kernel does nothing - perhaps not even boot.

Presumably this is a temporal phenomenon since the Andon (manufacturing) style specifically is intended to pass command to organs. Likely our organizations will oscillate between extremes as participants within those organizations learn to optimize for their own objectives at the cost of those of society^[3].

Notes

↑ The widespread use of firearms does require a more extreme form of power dynamic between participants. Without that, it is too easy for a firearm wielder to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.
↑ This is not meant to imply that the British are particular stalwarts vs. the Americans, but rather that policing in particular is practised differently in these nations.
↑ Some things do not converge and it's simply important for participants to be jolted out of niches they've carved so that outcomes can be achieved.

[usa-power-1] The widespread use of firearms does require a more extreme form of power dynamic between participants. Without that, it is too easy for a firearm wielder to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[uk-v-usa-2] This is not meant to imply that the British are particular stalwarts vs. the Americans, but rather that policing in particular is practised differently in these nations.

[temporality-3] Some things do not converge and it's simply important for participants to be jolted out of niches they've carved so that outcomes can be achieved.

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