Applied Physics

[LMNO]

Perhaps you have heard of the Peter Principle of management: "Every new member in a hierarchical organization climbs the hierarchy until he/she reaches his/her level of maximum incompetence".


Well, two physicists have mathematically proven that the most efficient way to run a company is by promoting people at random.

Be sure to use it at your next year-end review at work!

[AFK]

Yoinked. 

I've got the pitch already written....

"So you see, since we pride ourselves on being "evidence-based" we have no choice but to follow the science.  Promoting me to Substance Abuse Prevention Manager" is scientifically proven to guarantee our success as an organization.  Shall we draw up the paperwork now?"

[Jasper]

Oh my god

ohmygodohmygod

yesssss

[Telarus]

[Don Coyote]

i think I just shit myself at the awesomeness of that.
I wonder what would happen is the military was organized that way.

[Jasper]

I think we need to find an organization that will put this to use.  We are men of science after all.  We have an obligation to test the hypothesis.

[AFK]

Good idea.  Let's start here.  someone should randomly promote me to Admin.

[Kai]

Good idea.  Let's start here.  someone should randomly promote me to Admin.

Since you suggested it, it won't be random.

[AFK]

Well, that's the fly in the ointment isn't it?

[Telarus]

I've been considering a political/org system that takes into account random promotion. Nice to know there are physics to back up the idea.

[Kansai]

Promote me to this forum's admin; you'll barely be sorry.

I think I just shit myself at the awesomeness of that.
I wonder what would happen if the military was organized that way.

Fixed.

[Golden Applesauce]

For those who didn't read the article -

If performance at higher up on the hierarchy is correlated to performance at lower levels, you should promote your best people.
If performance is uncorrelated, then you should promote your worst people.  (If Alice is a great burger flipper and Bob is a shitty burger flipper, you should promote Bob over Alice because either is just as likely as the other to be a good manager, but if you promote Alice you're out one good burger flipper.)

Random advancement is only the least bad strategy if you need one that works in both universes.

They haven't proven anything about actual promotion strategies.

[Golden Applesauce]

Promote me to this forum's admin; you'll barely be sorry.

I think I just shit myself at the awesomeness of that.
I wonder what would happen if the military was organized that way.

Fixed.

Pedantry will not serve you well here.  Just saying.

[Don Coyote]

Promote me to this forum's admin; you'll barely be sorry.

I think I just shit myself at the awesomeness of that.
I wonder what would happen if the military was organized that way.

Fixed.

Thank you. Some time I forget words.

Also....I smell poptart.

[Requia ☣]

I've been considering a political/org system that takes into account random promotion. Nice to know there are physics to back up the idea.

Math, not physics.