The mechanism
A response reduces a symptom quickly, while a second pathway creates a delayed cost. If that cost feeds the original problem, repeating the response can produce a cycle of relief and recurrence. The pattern is a hypothesis about two pathways, not a verdict that every temporary fix is mistaken.
An everyday version
Imagine a team that skips maintenance to release work faster. The immediate deadline is met. If those omissions subsequently cause failures and rework, later releases may become harder. This is an illustrative scenario; its fit depends on measuring both the immediate gain and the delayed burden.
What to look for
Track the symptom over a long enough interval to include the side effect. Ask whether the problem returns after similar interventions, whether the proposed side effect actually occurs, and whether another change could explain the return.
Where could you intervene?
Pair temporary relief with work on the causal pathway. If the short-term action is needed, monitor its side effects and specify what will end its use.
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