MENTAL MODEL · M1708

Gridlock

DecideHigh supportDecision Science

Included

Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Originally refers to a traffic jam so severe that vehicles are locked together and cannot move in any direction. Extended to mean a paralyzed state where no decisions can be made or actions taken due to conflicting interests and veto power.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Identify systemic gridlock. In an organization, if everyone can say 'no' but no one can say 'yes', it becomes a traffic jam. The solution is usually to change the decision rules (e.g., from unanimous to majority).

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Originally refers to vehicles blocking each other at an intersection, with no direction able to move (gridlock). Extended to the 'unanimous veto' structure in games: when every participant has veto power but no one has the power to advance, any proposal can be vetoed by one party, and the system falls into a Pareto-inferior state that cannot resolve itself.

MINIMUM ACTION

In progress 0/4

Practice this model in one real situation:

Identify the veto structure in the organization where 'everyone can say no, no one can say yes'
Change decision rules (from unanimous to majority or weighted)
Introduce an entity with the power to advance or a time limit (e.g., automatic approval upon expiration)
Use external mediation to break symmetric deadlock.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

Learning progress0%

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Source support: Explicit

link
zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%83%B5%E5%B1%80ZH · Explicit
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