Measurement dysfunction

Measurement dysfunction describes a situation or behavior where actual data metrics, statistics and especially their meaning (or communicated meaning), can become problematic due to misuse.[1][2][3] Specifically, in areas such as Human Resources (Performance measurements[4]), Technology (Safety[5]), Finance or Health,[5] measurement dysfunctionality are critical, as it can lead to negative outcomes, wrong predictions or forecasts.

Practices to avoid:[6][3]

* Reward of wrong behavior (also persons who manipulate[7])
* Measuring the wrong things[8]
* Measuring either not enough or too much
* Cheating or data manipulation (intentional or unintentional due to wrong calculation models, systematic errors, human errors, etc.)

On eliminating dysfunctional measurement:[9]

* Establish, and monitor the move to and adherence to ‘policies’ for good, functional measurement
* Support technical correctness
* Periodically evaluate the information need and value delivered by measurements

## Trivia

"What gets measured gets manipulated."[10][11]

## See also

* Measurement uncertainty
* Leadership
* Performance measurement
* Plagiarism
* OKR
* Corporate culture
* Verification and validation
* Scientific rigor

## References

1. ↑ "Presentations and Papers". http://www.osel.co.uk/presentations.htm.
2. ↑ Austin, Robert D. (1996). Measuring and managing performance in organizations. Tom DeMarco, Timothy R. Lister. New York: Dorset House Publishing. ISBN 0-932633-36-6. OCLC 34798037. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/34798037.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Measurement Dysfunction". https://proactsafety.com/blog-posts/measurement-dysfunction.
4. ↑ "Measurement Madness: Recognizing and Avoiding the Pitfalls of Performance Measurement | Wiley" (in en-us). https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Measurement+Madness:+Recognizing+and+Avoiding+the+Pitfalls+of+Performance+Measurement-p-9781119970705.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Vincent, Charles, Dr (2013). The measurement and monitoring of safety : drawing together academic evidence and practical experience to produce a framework for safety measurement and monitoring. Susan Burnett, Jane Carthey. London. ISBN 978-1-906461-44-7. OCLC 861644942. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/861644942.
6. ↑ "When Measurement Goes Bad" (in en). https://www.amanet.org//articles/when-measurement-goes-bad/.
7. ↑ "How to Spot and Stop Manipulators" (in en-US). http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/communication-success/201406/how-spot-and-stop-manipulators.
8. ↑ Leonelli, Sabina (2020), Zalta, Edward N., ed., Scientific Research and Big Data (Summer 2020 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2020/entries/science-big-data/, retrieved 2021-02-22
9. ↑ Shelley, C. C. (October 2009). "eXtreme Measurement: recognizing, understanding and avoiding measurement dysfunction". Oxford Software Engineering. http://www.osel.co.uk/presentations/XMslides.pdf.
10. ↑ Dekker, Sidney (2017-10-19). "What gets measured, gets manipulated" (in en). The Safety Anarchist. Routledge. pp. 75–98. doi:10.4324/9780203733455-5. ISBN 978-0-203-73345-5. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/gets-measured-gets-manipulated-sidney-dekker/e/10.4324/9780203733455-5.
11. ↑ "Managing the Unmanageable: More Rules of Thumb". https://www.managingtheunmanageable.net/morerulesofthumb.html.

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