3 ms·

I really like Matt Levine's quote from his previous article (https://archive.ph/eKH6k https://archive.ph/eKH6k) on this topic: > To some extent you have to man

I really like Matt Levine's quote from his previous article (https://archive.ph/eKH6k https://archive.ph/eKH6k) on this topic: > To some extent you have to manage a big organization with simple, crude, legible metrics. In a big enough organization, somebody will game those metrics. Ideally you create a culture that minimizes that gamesmanship, one where employees understand and buy into the organization's real goals rather than just trying to maximize the dumb metrics. Wells Fargo seems to be having some trouble creating that culture. It's really just a fantastic example of Peter Drucker's famous adage "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." And it's why I get very wary of any large organizations that focus too much on data-driven goal setting (OKRs and the like) without having some way of stepping back and doing a reality check. To be clear, I actually like OKRs if they are used correctly to help prioritize and focus, but too often I've seen them become a weird, gameable time sink.

blitzar 2y ago
> Ideally you create a culture that minimizes that gamesmanship ... having some trouble creating that culture This ideal culture is like unicorns and rainbows - some of it exists under very specific atmospheric conditions and some of it, when you look closely, is really just a horse with a toilet roll on its forehead sprinkled with glitter.
creer 2y ago
It's truly shocking how organizations do not bring the hammer on managers who outright try to game the metrics. At least never (?) make the claim that gaming the metrics will get you booted. There is a feeling that, within rather lax limits, gaming the metrics is seen as good sports. Because yes, in the US I rather suspect that this comes from high school and college sports worship. Winning is what it's about and someone who bends the rules to win can probably be put to good use and should be promoted to where they can do the most damage?, bending?

blitzar 2y ago

> Ideally you create a culture that minimizes that gamesmanship ... having some trouble creating that culture This ideal culture is like unicorns and rainbows - some of it exists under very specific atmospheric conditions and some of it, when you look closely, is really just a horse with a toilet roll on its forehead sprinkled with glitter.

creer 2y ago

It's truly shocking how organizations do not bring the hammer on managers who outright try to game the metrics. At least never (?) make the claim that gaming the metrics will get you booted. There is a feeling that, within rather lax limits, gaming the metrics is seen as good sports. Because yes, in the US I rather suspect that this comes from high school and college sports worship. Winning is what it's about and someone who bends the rules to win can probably be put to good use and should be promoted to where they can do the most damage?, bending?