The idea of 'Loose Bricks' can be to find a competitor's weakness and to exploit it. But it is also is a metaphor for not being conscious of the weak signals that signal significant change is coming.
Bricks, or pavers, when used as a pathway, can move as the ground they are laid on shifts. At first the walker doesn't notice the movement causing slight gaps between the paver, or a slightly uneven surface. As the pavers further move, raised edges and larger gaps may appear, and they may even move under foot. This might be noticed but in the day to day scheme of things it may not seem important enough to require action. Finally a raised edge or gap causes a tripping and fall.
Schooling has such 'loose bricks'. One in four students in this country don't finish high school. 40% of student of low socioeconomic backgrounds don't complete, and in some jurisdictions up to 50% of our first nations student don't finish school!
Since the introduction of a national standardized testing regime Australia's international performance has actually fallen.
Employers regularly report students don't have the right skills and lobby for change saying academic results in themselves are not sufficient.
These are lose bricks