Draft pattern
The Queue Collapses Slowly, Then Suddenly
Backlogs look manageable until hidden delay tips into failure.
How it starts
A small queue is treated as normal. Waiting becomes part of the process.
How it drifts
More work enters than can be cleared. The queue hides stress until the system can no longer recover.
What to watch
Watch for ageing work, repeated chasing, priority churn and teams spending more effort managing the queue than clearing it.
Questions worth asking
- How old is the oldest item?
- What work keeps entering despite no capacity?
- What decision would reduce arrival rate?
Comment carefully
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