This is a guest post Quantum mechanics poses an interesting problem. Measuring a system tells us it’s current state, but the act of measurement also changes it. This isn’t just a problem for scientists This problem was going through my mind as I collected my Ford family wagon from it’s trip to my local dealership. It […]
The Elephant Problem
Manage the numbers We love to manage by targets and numbers. We divide our organisations up and target managers with very specific goals: Reduce waiting times Increase top line Minimise operational cost Maximise market penetration And off we go, convinced that our number is the most important number, striving to make it go the right […]
Counting Mushy Peas
Operational definition In the movie East is East there is a great line Crude… But great… And what d’you think I do in there morning till night? Counting mushy fuckin’ peas? Can you think of anything more futile than counting mushy peas? In his book The Tiger That Isn’t (which is also great) Andrew Dilnot picks up on […]
Are You Above Average?
We love averages They let us know how we are doing, we run our businesses on averages, we judge ourselves against averages, average headlines even sell newspapers: £2m: average pay award for JP Morgan’s top staff 2013 Weather Summary: Sunnier than average Average woman will kiss 15 men and be heartbroken twice before … (Which link […]
God-Awful Art and Operational Measurement
I can’t draw I am not bestowed with an artistic talent. That is not a defeatist attitude, just (another) realisation that I am less than perfect. At school I took art lessons. They were possibly the most painful hours in my life; my school friends would sketch away with alacrity creating images of great beauty […]
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