Dealing with Assertions and “Facts”
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• We presume that when someone makes an assertion then they have a reason to do
so, and that it is intended to suggest an implied action is required
o Thus, if someone states that “Glasgow has a population of over 500,000
people” then we ask why this assertion is being made — what is its meaning
in action terms? For example, they might know that it was 600,000 last year
and so the statement “obviously” implies that the “Council will be short of
taxes next year,” which also is stated as a “fact” with implied consequences
• Thus, assertions tend to be at “the bottom” of a map, with consequences following
from them.
Goals, Negative-Goals, and Constraints
• Goals are desired outcomes that are “good in their own right” (so much so that they
are hardly seen as optional by the interviewee)
• Negative goals are undesired outcomes that are bad in their own right
o For example, “become bitter”
• Constraints are often stated as if they were goals, but will be subordinate and have
consequences that constrain actions, goals, issues, etc.
o For example: “attaining minimum levels of shareholder return” may act as a
constraint on management behaviour, rather than act as a goal (even though
shareholders would wish to see it expressed as a goal)