Investigations as a catalyst for change

The Bayswater underpass is a part of Perth folklore. For years, trucks and busses would attempt to squeeze beneath it only to be reminded of the hard laws of physics as the vehicle failed to duck beneath the fixed structure. At one point, the bridge even had its own web site counting the ‘days since’ the last impact.

In a classic case of ‘kicking the can down the road’ bureaucrats erected sign after fluorescent sign warning of the looming danger to little effect. Rather than fixing the root cause of the problem and saving countless incidents resulting in damage, repairs and productivity losses, they took the easy option.

Even though a truck hit the bridge once every three months on average it took decades for change to be made. Every one of those trucks worked for a business that was impacted, every crash resulted in someone being late to an appointment because of detours and traffic impacts. Every bridge repair resulted in council workers being diverted from other essential activity.

This story is all too common in business. Leadership teams failing to learn the lessons from business failings and resigning themselves to deal with the same problem in the weeks, months or years ahead. Behind every workplace incident is a deeper story one that often points to systemic issues rather than isolated mistakes. Poor communication, unclear procedures, gaps in training, or flawed systems are frequently at the root. But unless we pause to really investigate, those patterns remain hidden.

An investigation done well can shine a light on those deeper issues, turning a one-time event into a meaningful trigger for long term improvement.

It’s tempting to move on quickly after an incident, complete the report, tick the box, and return to business as usual. But these are the exact moments when leadership attention is high, people are paying attention, and change is possible. Use that moment to ask the bigger questions. Involve your people. Identify what needs fixing not just at the surface level, but deep in your processes and culture.

Every incident is a chance to get better. Contact ⚡Virtus Advisory⚡ to learn more.