This is What They . . .

There are times when, while mastering a concept, it is important to take a step or two back and ask whether it makes sense.

Knowing it is not the same as agreeing with it but if you don't clarify why you disagree, you may find yourself adopting the thinking by default.

I recently encountered this while researching the operations of a now-defunct bureaucracy. The organization had a principle that was widely known, touted, and even revered. It would be easy to say, "This was their real standard" if you didn't consider the question of "How did this operate in the real world?"

Beware of the easy answer because in the real world, there are gaps.

This is what they said they valued. 

This is what they said they did. 

This is what they really did.