Mediocrity drift: Difference between revisions
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{{a|hr|}}{{d|{{PAGENAME}}|/ˌmiːdɪˈɒkrɪti drɪft/|n}}A curious, unintended, negative feedback loop of lazy [[human capital management]]. | {{a|hr|}}{{d|{{PAGENAME}}|/ˌmiːdɪˈɒkrɪti drɪft/|n}}A curious, unintended, negative feedback loop of lazy [[human capital management]]. | ||
Let’s say firms generally run a benign affirmative action policy, to increase representation. This means, when presented with equivalent candidates, it will prioritise candidates of a type it doesn’t have when [[lateral hire|laterally hiring]], and those in over-represented groups when selecting candidates for a [[RIF]]. | Let’s say firms generally run a benign affirmative action policy, to increase representation. This means, when presented with broadly equivalent candidates, it will prioritise candidates of a type it doesn’t have when [[lateral hire|laterally hiring]], and those in over-represented groups when selecting candidates for a [[RIF]]. | ||
Since one tends to laterally hire one golden strand at a time, but reduce the workforce in large hanks this creates an odd system effect. | Since one tends to laterally hire one golden strand at a time, but reduce the workforce in large hanks, this creates an odd system effect, predicated on three assumptions: | ||
*That, generally, [[lateral quitter]]s are ''relatively'' good employees. | |||
*That, generally, [[RIF]] candidates aren’t. | |||
*That all personnel, however you choose to categorise them, are evenly distributed relative to the [[cost-value threshold]], and that any given subgroup, however classified (except by reference to pure value) will be about as good as any other. | |||
So, IT professionals as a group will be as good as what they do as will lawyers; young as well as old, men as women, and so on. Each will have the same proportions of outperformers and plodders. | |||
If so, then | If so, then a system which favours one group (group A) over another (group B) has a counterintuitive effect on the remaining populations of each group: on ''average'', the unfavoured group B will ''increase'' in relative value, while favoured group A will ''decrease'' in relative value, ''even though no individual performance, in either group, changes at all''. | ||
On second glance you can see why this should be so. The process systematically weeds out | On a second glance, you can see why this should be so. The process systematically weeds out ''underperforming'' members of group B and ''overperforming'' members of group A. The “good” side of the distribution will progressively become group B-dominated — they are not being bid away as frequently — and the “below par” section will becomes progressively group A dominated. | ||
Two observations: here is [[systemantics]] in its raw natural state; and notice how pernicious the idea of the ''average'' is here. On average, the minority is paid progressively less. It looks like minority employees are being discriminated against on pay, but in fact they are being ''favoured for poor performance''. | Two observations: here is [[systemantics]] in its raw natural state; and notice how pernicious the idea of the ''average'' is here. On average, the minority is paid progressively less. It looks like minority employees are being discriminated against on pay, but in fact they are being ''favoured for poor performance''. |