# How to break the cycle of firefighting and build engineering excellence

DevFeed: [How to break the cycle of firefighting and build engineering excellence](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/how-to-break-the-cycle-of-firefighting-and-build-engineering-excellence-35231.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://jes.al/2025/01/how-break-cycle-of-firefighting/>)

Author: jesalg

Published: 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Jesal Gadhia](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/jesal-gadhia.md>)

Topics: [Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/development.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/systems.md>), [reactive](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/reactive.md>)

Tags: [career](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/career.md>), [development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/development.md>), [engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering.md>), [engineering-excellence](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering-excellence.md>), [how-to](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/how-to.md>), [leadership](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/leadership.md>), [patterns](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/patterns.md>), [prevent](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/prevent.md>), [reactive](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/reactive.md>), [software-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software-development.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/systems.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains how engineering leaders can break out of reactive firefighting by using systems thinking. It introduces the iceberg model, distinguishing visible events from recurring patterns and deeper causes, and argues that identifying persistent patterns can support more proactive engineering practices.

## Source excerpt

Exercise better foresight by identifying patterns, pinpointing what makes them persist, and understanding what could prevent it in the future