Tuesday, December 8, 2009

What's so scary about metrics?

I recently went on an interview for a consulting gig for a business-type program management assignment. Received feedback that I might be too 'metric-driven' to meld with my business customers.

What is it about metrics that scared my interviewer?

We were probably not communicating on the same plane. Everyone is afraid of their work being quantified not because of the fact, but, because of the implied 'non-value add' work it entails. It is fear of the tedium.

Valuable lesson when asking for metrics:
1. Be practical. The only goal when asking for metrics is to be able to quantify work completed, or results. There is a good balance between quantifying results and defeating the whole efficiency of getting the work done because of the metrics required to prove it was done.
2. Communicate clearly what you mean when you mean metrics. The word itself may imply more than just tedium and imply more negative connotations.

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