Recursive friction patterns. When systems optimize for their own dysfunction and accelerate toward particle state.
The Friction Loop is a system state where friction becomes the optimization target. The organization unconsciously perfects its dysfunction, creating elegant mechanisms for consistent friction. Each iteration makes particle state more stable.
A system creates friction. Normal response: add processes to prevent recurrence. But the cure contains seeds of deeper particle state.
Signal: "We need better processes"
Reality: Process becomes Decision Latency
The system starts optimizing around the friction. Workarounds become standard. Exception handling becomes the rule. Dysfunction gets infrastructure.
Signal: "That's just how we do things"
Reality: Friction becomes Structural Lock-In
Success now depends on dysfunction. Remove the friction pattern and the system collapses. People's jobs exist to manage problems that shouldn't exist.
Signal: "We can't change that—everything depends on it"
Reality: Friction becomes load-bearing
The system achieves maximum efficiency at creating friction. Every improvement makes friction more reliable. Success metrics measure dysfunction optimization.
Signal: "Our failure rate is very consistent"
Reality: Friction becomes excellence (GPI 9-10)
Company X had slow deployments. They added approval processes. Deployments got slower. They added automation to speed up approvals. This created more edge cases needing more approvals.
Five years later: 47-step deployment process. 11 full-time employees managing deployment. Average deployment time: 6 weeks.
The Friction Loop: They optimized the approval process instead of questioning why deployments needed approval. GPI: 9.2 (Structural Lock-In).
If it shouldn't exist, don't make it better. Delete it. Move toward field state.
Find the first friction point. Everything else is recursion.
Gradual change strengthens friction loops. Only disruption breaks them.
Breaking friction loops creates mess. That's proof Error Correction is working.
Friction loops defend themselves. They'll convince you that dysfunction is necessary, that particle state is actually field state, that the problem is the solution. The moment you start optimizing the friction, you've lost.
4 targeted questions to measure your exposure to friction loop.
Takes 60 seconds. No data stored.
Stop perfecting dysfunction. Start moving toward field state.