A situation where two valid principles push a system in different directions, requiring a decision based on the underlying values or goals being optimized.
What are Some Examples of Principle Tension
Speed vs. Quality
Standardization vs. Flexibility
Autonomy vs. Alignment
Exploration vs. Exploitation
Local Optimization vs. Global Optimization
Principle Tension Relationships
What Interventions Mitigate Principle Tension?
Spine Model: In practice, when you’re stuck choosing between competing principles, you go up a level, clarify which value you’re optimizing for, and then pick the principle that best advances that value.