Measurement dysfunction

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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

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

## See also

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

## References

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1. ^ "Presentations and Papers". www.osel.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
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.
3. ^ a b "Measurement Dysfunction". proactsafety.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
4. ^ "Measurement Madness: Recognizing and Avoiding the Pitfalls of Performance Measurement | Wiley". Wiley.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
5. ^ a b Vincent, Charles (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: The Health Foundation. ISBN 978-1-906461-44-7. OCLC 861644942.
6. ^ "When Measurement Goes Bad". www.amanet.org. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
7. ^ "How to Spot and Stop Manipulators". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
8. ^ Leonelli, Sabina (2020), "Scientific Research and Big Data", in Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2020 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved 2021-02-22
9. ^ Shelley, C. C. (October 2009). "eXtreme Measurement: recognizing, understanding and avoiding measurement dysfunction" (PDF). www.osel.co.uk. Oxford Software Engineering. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
10. ^ Dekker, Sidney (2017-10-19). "What gets measured, gets manipulated". The Safety Anarchist. Routledge. pp. 75–98\. doi:10.4324/9780203733455-5. ISBN 978-0-203-73345-5.
11. ^ "Managing the Unmanageable: More Rules of Thumb". www.managingtheunmanageable.net. Retrieved 2021-02-22.