Planned pattern
The Policy Outlives the Problem
A rule created for one context survives after the risk has changed.
How it starts
A policy is written because something went wrong, nearly went wrong, or might go wrong in a way nobody wants to explain twice.
How it drifts
The original context fades. The policy remains, carried forward by templates, induction material and the fear of being the person who relaxed a control.
Why it survives
Removing a rule creates visible accountability. Keeping it creates diffuse inconvenience. Diffuse inconvenience usually loses.
What to watch
Look for rules that everyone obeys but nobody can connect to a current risk without telling an old story.
Questions worth asking
- What problem did this policy originally solve?
- Does that problem still exist in the same form?
- What harm does the policy now create?
- Who is allowed to retire a rule?
Comment carefully
Send examples or corrections by email. Responses are private by default and manually reviewed before anything is quoted. Respond to this planned pattern.