
Daiei Studios
Toshiro Mifune and Daisuke Kato in the 1950 film Rashomon.
When we step into a complex organization—whether in manufacturing, healthcare, or finance—we often find ourselves navigating a sea of competing truths. Everyone seems certain they see the problem clearly. Yet somehow, solving it feels harder than it should.
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Why?
Often, it’s not the facts that differ. It’s the interpretation.
Enter the Rashomon effect
Named after Akira Kurosawa’s iconic 1950 film Rashomon, the term refers to how multiple people can witness the same event and come away with completely different accounts. Each person believes they’re telling the truth, but their truths conflict.
In organizations, the Rashomon effect shows up when departments, teams, or individuals interpret the same issue in vastly different ways—based on background, incentives, or domain expertise. It shapes how we identify problems, assign blame, and pursue solutions.
Let’s explore how it plays out and how we can navigate through it.
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Comments
QM
This is the unobvious - all think they "know" till a cross-functional structured thinking-model is objectively applied - I was wowed the first time I did TRIZ Level I. Great write!
Rashomon effect
Thank you Chilau. It would be terrific if you could share that experience. And in addition, Chilau, you will be further blown away by the Weissenberg Effect - if you have not heard of it, although I'm sure you have seen the effect without giving it a second look
TRIZ value
Reframing is critical to understanding the problem. TRIZ is a scientific method that can be integrated in different frameworks including including risk.
Very nice piece.
Roshomon Effect
Thank you Greg. I wish you could have shared your experience through a specific example. Please reach out to me via email and share specific example; it is an opportunity for others to learn through it as well.
Feedback
The article is very relevant to any set up where problems are hard to define and solutions hard to come by. Team problem solving is in essence the true cure for any issue tat keeps on repeating.
Good job, Keep up the good articles coming.
Roshomon Effect
Thank you C.G. for the encouraging words.
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