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is your "score", you?


Avid Andy begins to wonder if he may be schizophrenic.  Or could it be a sign of true genius when he can see a problem from all sides? Andy was reflecting on a service meeting that happened last week.  Conversation was around our ability to objectively measure things and make better decisions. At the center of almost any measurement environment are the fundamentals of math. To determine priority or influence, it seems logical when dealing with inanimate objects like sensors, assets, and sites in a portfolio to move towards "point-based systems". The real dilemma for Andy seemed to comes when we begin scoring humans and letting pre-determined algorithms establish an individuals path.



Our service meeting quickly changed from tactical to philosophical discussions and one of the technicians, Pragmatic Paul, made mention of a black mirror program (Netflix) named "Nosedive".   In this futuristic episode, an individuals score dictates their behavior and those surrounding them, are we paving this road?   It seemed reasonable to create points of measurement that could be used to gauge a workers fit for a job, skills, proximity, cost, billable rate, etc.  What happens if those scores are used for tangential purposes. How about your value to the organization is based off of these performance scores?  Possibly the scores of people that you run with most frequently have an impact?  What about scores regarding your personality type or relationship you may have with another employee or even a customer?  Could the score be impacted by your age, your ethnicity, your ability to deliver a full day's work? 



As we endeavor down the path of providing the best person for any service situation, we need to keep a mindful eye to the future.  Intelligence today, without mention of governance, could result in a bumpy future filled with the best intentions.



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Next post:  from the field to the office
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