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If You Can’t Measure It, You Can’t Manage It

21 June, 2022 by James Lawther Leave a Comment

Unhelpful Statements

One of Peter Drucker’s maxims was “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”.

I have lots of sympathy for the statement. If you aren’t measuring performance, you can’t see if it is getting better or worse; if you don’t know if it is getting better or worse, you aren’t managing it.

I like a robust argument. But it only takes you so far.

Table Stakes

Measuring is only the start. How should you use the measure once you have it? What did Peter Drucker mean by “manage”?

There are two options (and plenty of shades of grey).

Option 1: Use the Measure for Control

This is the most common approach. Using the measure to control performance is not a bad thing. Unfortunately, although that is what we say we are doing, the reality is different. We use the measure to control people, not performance. We set targets and goals and apply carrots and sticks. You may be able to control people for a while, but it will end badly.

Option 2: Use the Measure for Improvement

You could use the measure to learn by changing your operation and watching to see what happens. Then, with your improved understanding, change something else and see what happens this time—constantly improving as you learn something new.

Using a measure to control people will get you one set of outcomes; using it to improve will get another.

Drucker may have said, “If you can’t measure It, you can’t manage it”.

Lord Kelvin is alleged to have said, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it”.

Kelvin wins.

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Image by synx508

Post Script

Unfortunately, Lord Kelvin said was. “…but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind…”

This demonstrates the value of getting to the point and not waffling on.

Filed Under: Blog, Operations Analysis Tagged With: beliefs, command and control, key performance indicators, measurement, Peter Drucker, targets

About the Author

James Lawther
James Lawther

James Lawther is a middle-aged, middle manager.

To reach this highly elevated position he has worked in numerous industries, from supermarket retailing to tax collecting.  He has had several operational roles, including running the night shift in a frozen pea packing factory and carrying out operational research for a credit card company.

As you can see from his C.V. he has either a wealth of experience or is incapable of holding down a job.  If the latter is true this post isn’t worth a minute of your attention.

Unfortunately, the only way to find out is to read it and decide for yourself.

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