Principle 15:
Structure Reveals Behavior

Plain-English Summary

What you observe in a process—delays, bottlenecks, errors, stability, or speed—is not primarily caused by people. It is caused by the structure of the route itself. OneRoute makes that structure visible.

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What this Principle Means

Behavior emerges from how steps are ordered, connected, repeated, and constrained. When structure changes, behavior changes—even if the people and tools remain the same.

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Why This Principle Matters

Organizations often respond to problems by training, policing, or replacing people. OneRoute shifts attention to the underlying structure that produces the behavior in the first place.

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Structural Elements That Shape Behavior

• Where Actions occur

• Where time is introduced (Wait, Process, Standby)

• Where branches and loops exist (Decision, Repeat)

• Where reuse is enforced (Bridge boundaries)

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​Concrete Examples

Human process: Frequent rework is caused by a Repeat with weak exit criteria.

Observed reality: Long queues form where Wait is unconstrained.

Natural phenomena: Stable cycles emerge from balanced feedback loops.

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Mini Case: Blaming the Wrong Thing

A team misses deadlines. Management blames effort. Mapping reveals a Decision late in the route that forces frequent backtracking. Fixing the structure fixes the behavior.

 

How to Apply This Principle

1. Observe recurring outcomes.

2. Map the route without judgment.

3. Identify structural patterns producing the behavior.

4. Change structure before changing people.

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Common Misunderstandings

• Assuming behavior reflects motivation

• Optimizing steps without understanding the route

• Treating outcomes as isolated incidents

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Quick Diagnostic Questions

• Where does work slow down repeatedly?

• Where do errors re-enter the route?

• What structures exist just before these outcomes?

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If You Only Remember One Thing

Behavior follows structure.

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Canonical Statement

Outcomes in OneRoute emerge from structure, not individual performance.