Comments on: Focus on the Real Objectives https://effectivedatabase.com/focus-on-the-real-objectives/ Making data management a revenue generator Tue, 28 Apr 2020 19:43:27 +0000 hourly 1 By: Virgil Carter https://effectivedatabase.com/focus-on-the-real-objectives/#comment-896 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:33:23 +0000 http://effectivedatabase.com/2007/09/06/focus-on-the-real-objectives/#comment-896 Wes, having covered this ground (not always successfully), I can reliably report:

1. The Kid’s Manual says: Always push the margins.

2. The Parent’s Manual says: Love your kids, more than anything forever.

Sounds to me like everything is on track. Cheers, bud!

Keep posting the good stuff.

]]> By: Wes Trochlil https://effectivedatabase.com/focus-on-the-real-objectives/#comment-895 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:41:27 +0000 http://effectivedatabase.com/2007/09/06/focus-on-the-real-objectives/#comment-895 Thanks for the comment, Virgil. You’ve hit it on the head with this remark: “The challenge of measurement is identification of the relevant metric(s).” Too often we go for the easy ones (the marbles) instead of the less obvious one (the behavior change).

As for my children, you’re right, they’ve probably already figured out that mom and dad will only hold them to 80%. (Wily bunch that they are!)

]]> By: Virgil Carter https://effectivedatabase.com/focus-on-the-real-objectives/#comment-894 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:45:09 +0000 http://effectivedatabase.com/2007/09/06/focus-on-the-real-objectives/#comment-894 Measuring performance–results–is usually always the best way of measuring success. Some people and organizations, however, prefer to measure other qualities, such as relationships and competencies. These may be important, but they don’t generally substitute for results.

Behavior change is one type of result. I’m not sure associations are (properly) in the business of behaviour change, but I may not understand the intended meaning of the term in this context. I tend to think of the enduring purpose of associations as “good of the order”, and not personal benefits for individual members or customers.

The challenge of measurement is identification of the relevant metric(s). So easy to say; so hard to do. Is the metric a leading or lagging indicator? A leading metric tends to influence and reflect behavior towards the desired performance–so choose very carefully or you may get unanticipated and wrong performance. A lagging metric tends to identify, after the fact, the level of success–so be patient, unitl after the activity is concluded.

Sometimes the metric that seemed so obviously appropriate turns out to not be workable, in whole or part. Thus, choose metrics carefully and don’t be reluctant to change if needed. Seems to me this may be the case of the marble metric.

In the case of the marbles, I would wonder about the precedent that was set, and what your children’s expectations may be for the next similar scenario. For example, will your children believe that you don’t really expect them to achieve 100% of the metric, and that it reasonable for them to expect to be fully rewarded if they only achieve 80% of the metric?

Counting marbles is unimportant. What is important is that everyone share a common understanding of success and how it will be (consistently) measured, eh?

An excellent post–thanks.

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