Don’t Fall for the Promotion “Shell game”

Part 14, A Cure that is Worse than the Disease

I’d like to make it clear that I’m not proposing a fix based on moving from subjective decision-making, with all its vulnerabilities, to a totally objective standard.

First of all, there is no such thing as a totally objective standard because someone has to pick the standard and this introduces its own subjectivity.

Second, even if we could agree on a fair objective standard, this doesn’t lend itself to promoting the best person. What it lends itself to is people trying to game the standard rather than doing what is right and best overall.

To be clear, I’m a huge believer in caring people making decisions based on their expertise and experience.

What is even better is when they bring a full measure of wisdom to their decision making — including an acknowledgment of the limitations of their own perception and a thirst to constantly improve this. I’ll put my fate in that person’s hands over an algorithm any day of the week.

Just say no to Skynet.

Tune in tomorrow for the next installment…