Many times, performing our roles well impedes progress for someone else. Here's a simple example. In a university setting, there is usually a textbook manager. Her role is to order textbooks in advance and at a quantity that will ensure amble supply for the upcoming needs. She discovered early in her job that ordering in large quantities saves both the university and students money, so she orders books in quantities that will meet demand for at least 18 months. She successfully executes her role.

Also in this process of delivering education, there is a program chair who evaluates the curriculum needs, including what textbooks to implement into the program. When he stumbled upon a new textbook that would be a good fit for a planned curriculum, he went to the textbook manager to request the change. She said that the change could not happen right away because of the quantity of textbooks already on hold. Her diligence to save money had a ripple effect to the program chair in executing his role in providing quality education. You can imagine that their relationship soured when he thought the textbook manager was being inflexible and she thought the program chair was being too demanding (Brynteson, 2006, p. 28).
This is an example of the systems archetype accidental adversary at work. The system worked against each of them because if each successfully executes her or his role, they negatively impact each other.

• In your current (or former) work situation, analyze and describe an accidental adversary. What are, or were, the roadblocks that were created for others? (150 words)