Rethinking the Half-Full/Empty Glass Meme

    Pessimist: "Glass is half empty"
    Optimist: "Glass is half full" 
    Realist: "Glass is half water, half air"

We all know the famous “glass half-full or half-empty” metaphor, a classic illustration of optimist vs. pessimist perspectives. But this analogy often overlooks a crucial perspective: the realist. Realists assess the situation as it is, considering both the potential and the limitations. This resonates deeply with my approach to health system strengthening, where I combine realist evaluation, systems thinking, and pragmatism.

Realist evaluation, as I’ve discussed before, delves into the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of interventions, emphasizing the importance of understanding context and its interplay with mechanisms. Think of it as looking at the glass from multiple angles. To better understand this, let’s expand on the analogy:

    Engineer: "The glass is twice as big as it needs to be"
    Psychologist: "The individual's perception of the glass is influenced by their personal experiences and biases"
    Economist: "The cost of filling the glass exceeds its current market value"

My favorite take on this comes from Bernard, a character from the HBO series Westworld: “The glass is manufactured to the wrong specifications.” Bernard, also an engineer, argues that the glass itself might be the issue, not just the amount of water in it.

While understanding the context is crucial, it’s not the whole story. The purpose of the glass is to hold water that we need. I recently came across a meme that adds “The Opportunist” to the analogy. While everyone else debates whether the glass is half-full or half-empty, the opportunist simply drinks the water. This resonates with my pragmatic side. However, what if the water isn’t safe to drink? This is where realist evaluation comes in – providing the necessary insights to make informed decisions.

My current approach to this: It is all about balancing between being a realist with pragmatic action. By understanding the context and mechanisms at play, we can make informed decisions and take effective action.

Whether facing a fragmented health system or suboptimal business operations, it’s important to understand the decision problems at hand. Using the realist approach can help us interrogate the “glass manufacturer” or the motive behind the water in the glass. This is done while we explore various actions – filling the glass, repairing leaks, or finding a better container, and ultimately, how can every one at the table have their own glass of water to drink.