Measuring Up (Or Down?) : How the Best of Intentions Lead to Undesirable Consequences

Abstract

The act of measuring and the use of good data to represent the standing of otherwise abstract positions are important. Quality gurus use them in their deliberations regarding what constituted ‘quality’ and what did not. Their intelligent use of the right system of measures has brought tremendous success in the manufacturing industry. Quality assurance that utilises measures and indicators in a fitting fashion has formed the basis of this achievement. To add, measuring helps compare relative positions, which in turn provide guidance to formulate whatever steps needed to make things better. With numbers, people acquire a degree of power that gives them back some control over their lives and undertakings.