Showing posts with label solving problems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solving problems. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Deadly Sins of Management




Selling off assets is one of the Many Deadly Sins of Management.

2.  Now, (In view of the Miss America Scandal) being stupid enough to both hold those views and to put them in E-mails.

3.  Defending incompetent Managers in your organisation instead of Firing them because you believe that fixing a problem is a sign of incompetence.

4.  Failing to take action when employee complaints reach your level because you believe that if you ignore them they will go away.

5.  Delegating authority to those without adequate abilities and without adequate oversight because you believe in credentialism.

6.  Ignoring deliverables and measurables because you believe failure to reach targets can be blamed on others.

7.  Believing your legal department can cover your ass.

8.  Believing your position of authority will protect you.

9.  Taking responsibility as a tactic to shift blame to others.


Regards,

Slim

If you find anything here to be helpful, please don't hesitate to send me a really tricked out Macbook and to tuck a few dollars into the envelope along with the thank you note.  Slim.

Robert Asken
Box 33
Pen Argyle, PA 18072

LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/slimfairview/



Copyright (c) 2017 Robert Asken
All rights reserved.


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Eggheads and Cracked Eggs

Why we can't solve problems. 


We no longer want to embrace analysis. The empirical method of analysis.  Conduct the experiment, document the results, duplicate the experiment, duplicate the results, write a paper with the conclusions.




Here is the metaphor.


Wolf Blitzer stops off at the market on the way home to buy a dozen eggs.  When he arrives home, he is motivated to try an experiment.  


  • He takes an egg out of the carton, drops it on the floor, and it breaks.  
  • He documents the results.  
  • He repeats the experiment. 
  • He duplicates the results.  
  • He submits a paper on the topic.  
  • His conclusion?  
  • Don't drop raw eggs on the floor: They will break and you will have a mess.
  • Dr. Blitzer cleans up the mess.


John King reads the academic paper.


  • John King decides to duplicate the experiment with the same results.  
  • Mr. King comes up with a different conclusion.  
  • He has not dropped enough eggs on the floor.
  • Mr. King buys another carton of eggs.  Then another with the same results. 
  • Mr. King writes a paper challenging Dr. Blitzer's conclusions.


Candy Crowley reads these papers and invites both onto her show for an interview.


Dr. Blitzer reiterates his position.  Mr. King objects.  Candy Crowley wants to know why.


Mr. King 


  • challenges the limited scope of the experiment.
  • challenges the number of people involved in the experiment.
  • challenges Dr. Blitzer's hasty conclusions.


Candy Crowley turns to Dr. Blitzer:


"In other words, you did the experiment yourself, you did not include other testers, and you came to a conclusion because your way is the only way."


Candy Crowley turns to Mr. King.  


"Now, you, John, you have a different approach.  Tell us all about it."


Mr. King says:


  • I want to involve more testers. 
  • I want to use more eggs.
  • I want to use eggs from different chickens.
  • I want to use eggs from different birds.


"Very open minded of you, Mr. King,  John, to keep such an open mind. Now you, Dr. Blitzer..."


"Well, I still believe--"


"I'm sorry. That's all we have time for. Coming up next: Reliable Sources, where the friends of John King will discuss why Mr. King's work is so important."

The Empirical Method of Scientific Inquiry Suffers.

Regards,


Slim


If you find anything here to be helpful, please do not hesitate to send me a really tricked-out laptop and to put a few dollars into the envelope along with the thank you note. Slim


Copyright (c) 2013 Slim Fairview
All Rights reserved