The Fallacy Complex occurs when the team underuses the Scientist team role.
Healthy use
When used appropriately, the Scientist team role provides explanation of how and why things happen. Scientists bring structure and organisation into the inner world of ideas and understanding. They analyse things, formulating hypotheses and explanations of how they function, and gather evidence to assess how true those explanations are. They produce mental models that replicate how particular aspects of the world work, and they try to understand the full complexity of any situation.
Insufficient use
If the Scientist team role is used insufficiently, however, and it becomes a 'No-Go-Area' for the team, then they may fail to analyse problems sufficiently. This means they may be unable to solve difficult problems. In fact, they may not even appreciate that they have a difficult problem to solve. They may see things in too-simple terms, not appreciating the complexity of the situation, and not realising the consequences of their decisions or actions. They therefore adopt solutions that have a high chance of failure.
The complex is given the name "Fallacy" because the team's decisions may be based on an inadequate or faulty analysis, or a false belief that they will succeed.
Solution
Complexes can be very difficult to deal with. See our general page on Complexes for more information.
A good facilitator or consultant can help the team address the Fallacy Complex in various ways, such as:
- Asking questions, using practical exercises as illustrations, or pointing out consequences that the team have not yet seen
- Introducing the team to a variety of problem-recognition and analysis techniques
- Providing paper or computer models that simulate their situation (eg: a process model) that will assist them in assessing the impact of their decisions
Psychology Footnote
The Fallacy Complex results from the team's rigidity in their avoidance of introverted Thinking.
See all sixteen team complexes.
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