Escaping The Error Free Trap
Part Three: The Universe of the Human Mind
You only have one chance to remain perfect. – Sentiment from multiple sources
Introduction
The common thread of our modern technological world is that faster and more accurate is the optimum way forward. If we were transitioning from the Stone Age to the Iron Age you would have difficulty saying that this is not a good idea. But is this really a good idea today?
To add a little interest to this article, I will be comparing the following system scenarios, Classic Bookkeeping Software (Bookkeeping), Critical Safety Software (Safety), Human Decision Making (Human), and Human Enlightenment (Enlightenment). As I believe the first three categories are self evident, I will simply explore them as we proceed. For Enlightenment, I need to explain myself a little bit. When I talk about Enlightenment, I am talking about the human desire for self improvement, whether that is in the mastery of art, sports, relationships, spiritualism, intellectualism, or any of the many endeavors of the human mind. In reality, this is the category that inspired my idea for this article in the first place. All the rest are here to build the foundation of my treatise.
Chapter 1 — Errors and Mistakes
For this discussion, I will be using some self defined terms.
I will define an error as a procedural problem that can be fixed in subsequent trials. The fix will change the procedure in a way that avoids the error in the future. This may require adding new steps, removing steps, changing the order of steps, or adding decision branches for validating data inputs. (And of course, any combination of the above.)
Error Free in this context is the lack of any errors after a process runs to completion. Note that this does not imply perfection. If one step adds an egregious element and another step removes it, the process is generally considered defective or untrustworthy even though the result is correct. (By the way, the exceptions to this rule are intriguing… more on that later.)
What is the difference between errors and mistakes?
In English language usage, they are pretty much the same thing, but for this discussion, I will define a mistake as an action that permanently degrades a system and require repairs, e.g. imagine a software error where a database is needlessly deleted. The fix will depend on the complexity of the problem, resources available and the management attention the problem generates. It will almost certainly be costly in time expended. In some cases, the mistake may be fatal to the system, i.e. no backup data exists.
In general, errors can cause mistakes. In addition, systems damaged by mistakes may generate errors until repaired.
Chapter 2 — Chasing the Perfect Process
If we want to create a perfect process, is a state of Error Free necessary?
As was discussed above, there is more to having a perfect process than just being Error Free, but intuitively we think it must at least be a requirement. Consider that work refining processes (to remove errors) requires resources. If the level of errors and their seriousness drop below a threshold where the cost of dealing with them (for the life of the process) is less than the cost of refining the process further, there may be no further benefit in continuing the refinement.
How does this work with Bookkeeping processes?
These processes requires raw data input, validation of the data, various calculations, and various reports. The calculations are cookbook in nature, e.g. income, expenses, taxes, and such. The system can be checked initially by loading a known data set and examining the reports for errors. Vested interests that depend on the Bookkeeping, such as different internal groups, will monitor the reports for their own self interest, i.e. their budget allotment. Thus the Bookkeeping is always under scrutiny.
Our initial thought might be that the relative simplicity of these systems would make them poster children for reaching an Error Free state. In truth, however, error reduction in Bookkeeping is always on going. It never ends. Changes to the software are necessary for updates of such things as new tax codes, hardware updates, or changes in executive tastes for report formats, a.k.a. the hide and seek of obscuring organizational intentions. Refinement to reduce errors will be a long term sine wave driven by the cycle of new updates and their subsequent debugging. In that context, these systems are virtually immune to the Error Free philosophy, even if their technocrat managers insist that they totally believe in the concept.
How does this work with Safety processes?
These processes require raw sensor input, calibration of the data, continuous checking of parameter limits, various alarms, and in some cases actual status reports. The system can be checked initially by fault insertion in mock ups. Oversight technicians/operators will monitor the system status and perform mandatory hardware maintenance in the hope of avoiding problems. Generally, these errors are basically only discovered when something goes horribly wrong, i.e. airplane crashes.
In many cases the cost of living with errors is reasonable, but when comparing the cost of having to reprint quarterly reports due to a typographical error to the failure of nuclear containment systems, we are in another entirely different ball park. In this circumstance, the cost of errors is generally impossibly high and we are trapped in the game of chasing all errors out of the system.
How does this work with Human processes?
These processes require sensory input, recognition of data traits, continuous situational learning, formulation of plans, various alarm states, and in some cases actual communication with other humans. The individual is initially checked by observing that the person is alive and responses to stimuli. Oversight entities will monitor the individual’s status and perform corrective actions in the hope of avoiding inappropriate behavior. Generally, errors are basically only discovered when something goes wrong, i.e. the individual performs stupid actions repeatedly.
In many cases the cost of living with these errors is a reasonable expense, i.e. annoyance, and the individual is allowed to continue functioning freely. Often the individual will receive suggestions for altering their behavior. If the errors cause mistakes, the response may start to restrict the freedom of actions of the individual, i.e. exclusion. When the errors and mistakes become high, the individual will face significant loss of freedom when resources are constrained, i.e. penalties. In the end, when mistakes become impossibly high the individual may face the complete loss of freedom with permanent confinement, i.e. prison, or in more conservative judicial realms even execution. Once again, we are trapped in the game unable to eradicate errors completely.
How does this work with Enlightenment processes?
When Human processes become aware of the impacts of their errors, mistakes, and other short comings, they may start the process of Enlightenment where they start to modify their own behavior to achieve their goals. These goals may include obtaining more resources, recognition, control of events, freedom of action, or even just peace of mind. More often or not, these individuals will turn to other individuals that they deem to be experts for suggestions. These experts may be the top performers in various endeavors or more likely, individuals who study them. In addition, these experts may be religious or spiritual entities as well. In any case, when one starts on the road to Enlightenment, they will most likely embrace the Error Free concept at some point.
These Enlightenment processes require insight into individual actions and the determination of whether these actions are errors or even mistakes. For most Humans, this is a monumental task in and of itself. If the desire to accomplish their goals is not strong enough, the whole endeavor may falter and fail.
When the Enlightened individuals do find their path, they must either become the monitor of their own status and perform self corrections as necessary or find a coach to guide them. Generally, errors are discovered by comparing their progress with known profiles, but the aspect of something going wrong is always available. This is the point where Enlightenment can easily fall into the Error Free trap. (You have to be perfect to succeed after all!)
Chapter 3 — Evils of the Perfect Process
Spoiler alert… no human walking the planet today is perfect. Most human endeavors will likely end with failure, especially as the difficulty level rises. Note though, if your goal is to not do something, you can relax, perfection is generally within your reach, i.e. smoking cessation. That will not make it easy and failure is still obtainable, but you can usually do it if you really want to. In some cases you can stack the deck in your favor, i.e. instruct your personal robot to take actions to prevent you from smoking.
Ignoring the passive goals, the problem with most goals is that errors (failures) are so abundant. Many are actually beyond the scope of an individual to control, or even foresee, i.e. natural disasters. When the Enlightened fail and tally errors, it may cause an erosion of confidence and other mental issues. In a worst case, this may create anger and an irrationally frenetic state of working harder. There are definitely health issues associated with the collapse of unrealistic expectations.
In addition, errors and minor mistakes in many cases can be a good thing. I have definitely learned more from my failures than I have from my successes. The coaches of sports teams will typically acknowledge after an upset loss, “Well, I should have the team’s attention next week.” Do you know anyone that has studied harder after failing a test where they did not study enough? There are lots of other similar examples, just do a search, “When is failure good?”
Military minds generally study history, not to learn clever tactics for combat, but to avoid engaging in the mistakes that lead to losing situations. If you are a subscriber to the theory of evolution, then you recognize that we would not exist without the genetic errors that advance life forms to more complex states.
Returning to the situation I mentioned before, where a process may create an undesirable product in one step and then in another step remove it, we have the case of isomers. Many commercial chemical processes for creating products may create isomers of the product along with the product itself. These isomers have the same chemical elements, but tend to be mirror images of the desired product. They are also generally undesirable because their chemical reactions may be completely different from the desired product. To make a pure form of the desired product, another set of steps may be required to remove these isomers. A necessary mistake is thus rectified to make a success.
Chapter 4 — Escaping the Error Free Trap
At this point, after acknowledging that some errors are beneficial, it is obvious (at least to me) that some of us need an escape from the Error Free trap. Now how would we do that?
Well first, an easy thing, goals should not be stated in terms of reducing errors. A goal is generally set to accomplish a noteworthy achievement, i.e. my goal is to climb the mountain. Inclusion of errors in the statement of the goal, i.e. my goal is to have zero failures in climbing the mountain, sounds like bravado and can easily be unattainable. A simple restatement can change the nature of the goal, i.e. my goal is to scale the mountain on the first try, now sounds like a carefully planned endeavor, even though it is still a quick way to fail.
Another strategy is to have multiple goals in play, i.e. having the goal of entering heaven does not preclude the goal of becoming a doctor. (Not sure if becoming a lawyer would be a safe bet, though.) Multiple goals, has the benefit of increasing the chances of more successes. It also provides the ability to take a break from one goal and work on another for a while. I use this strategy myself and find it very useful for briefly escaping difficult problems for a welcome vacation of sorts. There is a caveat, the number of goals should be limited, otherwise, you might be seen as someone who never finishes anything.
Carrying the multiple goal concept further, each major goal might break into several minor goals. This gives the opportunity for greater growth and diversity while progressing along one primary pathway. It also offers an opportunity to build organizational skills for those who are inclined. For those less inclined, using an assistant would be an option as well.
Back to the point of escaping, it is not necessary to actually escape all errors. We only have to accept the errors that we make and revise our plans to mitigate them. Even mistakes might not be insurmountable as long as our goal remains attainable. So our emphasis really should be how to define the goals to protect them from errors.
One such method is to actually expect errors and make procedural changes as they are encountered. This changes our emphasis away from Error Free to Repeated Error Free, e.g. a tried and true dating strategy. An extra benefit of this process is that we can now incorporate the experiences of other individuals into our planning and execution, i.e. a hundred geniuses did the same thing and none of them came close to a working solution, so… maybe it is not the best idea. I really like this strategy and try to use it as often as feasible. (‘cuss I make tons of mistakes!)
Chapter 5 — Summary
We live in the Universe of Our Own Mind. Anything that we do is susceptible to errors and mistakes as seen in our own perceptions of reality. If we are not satisfied with our self image, we can take steps to improve that image. The process of improvement needs to acknowledge that an Error Free state may not be practical in all situations and methods to manage errors and the consequences of errors may be necessary.
My personal strategy is to not allow imperfections to distract me from the things that I believe are important. It might just be that what we see as an illusion of reality through our senses is actually the real thing, a world filled with a multitude of other lost souls.
To each of you traveling the path that you have chosen, I hope that you find some peace at the end of your journey.
