Problem
Avoidance of negative feedback
Experimental visualization of narrower problems
Other Names:
Positive bias in reportingUncritical upbeat reporting
Uncritical feel-good rhetoric
Nature:
Organizations and social groups of all kinds have difficulties in processing negative feedback. Such feedback can take the form of external criticism of the performance of the organization or of its detrimental impact on the wider environment. It can take the form of internal reporting on such questions as well as on weaknesses in the organizational performance or on programme failures. The avoidance of such feedback may be encouraged by an insecure leadership that needs to be constantly encouraged by positive feedback. It may result from the ways in which good performance is rewarded within the organizational structure which can effectively result in career penalization if reports fail to appear positive. In the latter case reporting may focus only on positive achievements or only mention failures and emerging problems indirectly, if at all. Such avoidance prevents receipt of appropriate signals by management or the leadership, resulting in inappropriate policy formulation and a lack of ability to anticipate the evolution of events. Narrower Problems:
Unreported crimesUnreported illnessUnreported accidentsUnderreported issuesUnreported disagreementUnreported financial lossesInability of elected representatives to process feedback from constituents Related Problems:
Risk avoidanceCover-ups Aggravates:
SecrecyTokenismSubjectivismUnpreparednessBiased literatureUnreported violenceUnreported disastersUnreported harassmentIncorrect informationDeception by governmentPositive discriminationUnrealistic expectationsIntolerance of criticismTerminological deceptionBias in scientific researchConceptual repression of problemsConceptual repression of problemsIneffective decision-making processesGovernment failure to meet commitmentsExaggeration of programme achievementsDeliberate lying by corporation officialsDeliberate ignorance during policy-makingFalse positive representation to authorityCalculated delays in releasing controversial news items Reduces:
Discriminatory scientific language Strategies:
Using political rhetoricAffirming positiveReporting the newsAvoiding decision-makingShowing biasAvoiding negative feedback Subject(s):
Communication → Audio, visualSocietal Problems → Imbalances
Cybernetics → Cybernetics
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems Date of last update
08.02.1997 – 00:00 CET