In software engineering, “the march of the nines” is about how much harder it is to stack a 9.
For example, to get from 99.90% reliability to 99.99% reliability or accuracy of a program is just as hard as getting from 90% to 99%.
I see an analogy in nonprofit work. You start your program. You have incredible results. Then you try to scale it while maintaining the same outcomes….No luck, and you’re not sure why.
I see it in workforce development: Job placement rate is great with a cohort of 50, but starts to drop when you train 200 people that year. Why? Your class size is the same. The trainers are the same. So what’s the issue?
The reason this happens is that problems get increasingly more complex when a system encounters reality. More people, more problems.
Are you at 90%, trying to get to 99% and wondering what you’re doing wrong?
The answer is probably nothing. Give yourself grace, and manage your expectations. Each nine takes a lot more effort than you may initially realize.
