Question

1. Do you think evidence-based management seems like common sense? If so, why wasn’t it advocated earlier? 2. Are there circumstances in which evidence-based management might not be the best approach? 3. Could automated evidence-based management ever replace human decision makers? Why or why not? 4. Would you want to work under Jack Welch’s system at General Electric? Why or why not?

Answer 1

1. Evidence-based management seems like common sense initially, but the reality is not that simple. Managers are often hired based on their experience. Therefore, people tend to believe their word more than they would believe some types of concrete evidence. Moreover, even when evidence does not change, it can be interpreted in various ways by different people, making objectivity impossible.

2. Sometimes, evidence-based management might not be the best approach. This would especially be the case in situations where a manager might be very experienced. It might be better to trust the manager's interpretation of events as opposed to what the evidence might suggest.

3. It is unlikely that automated evidence-based management could ever fully replace human decision-makers. This is because automated managers might not be sensitive enough to human matters that are important for a correct interpretation of evidence.

4. I would want to work under this system, as ultimately the system is most likely to lead to efficient outcomes. Moreover, under this system, all workers are treated in the same way.