Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Techmology and Scientism => Topic started by: LMNO on November 29, 2010, 06:58:16 PM

Title: Applied Physics
Post by: LMNO on November 29, 2010, 06:58:16 PM
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 (http://arxiv.org/abs/0907.0455) 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!
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: AFK on November 29, 2010, 07:04:01 PM
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?"
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Jasper on November 29, 2010, 07:16:47 PM
Oh my god

ohmygodohmygod

yesssss
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Telarus on November 29, 2010, 11:15:25 PM
:awesome:
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Don Coyote on November 30, 2010, 01:42:11 AM
i think I just shit myself at the awesomeness of that.
I wonder what would happen is the military was organized that way. :fap:
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Jasper on November 30, 2010, 04:31:37 AM
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.
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: AFK on November 30, 2010, 01:26:24 PM
Good idea.  Let's start here.  someone should randomly promote me to Admin.
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Kai on November 30, 2010, 08:02:40 PM
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on November 30, 2010, 01:26:24 PM
Good idea.  Let's start here.  someone should randomly promote me to Admin.


Since you suggested it, it won't be random.
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: AFK on November 30, 2010, 08:09:51 PM
Well, that's the fly in the ointment isn't it?
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Telarus on November 30, 2010, 08:33:35 PM
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.
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Kansai on November 30, 2010, 08:35:07 PM
Promote me to this forum's admin; you'll barely be sorry. :wink:

Quote from: Sir Coyote on November 30, 2010, 01:42:11 AM
I think I just shit myself at the awesomeness of that.
I wonder what would happen if the military was organized that way. :fap:


Fixed.
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Golden Applesauce on December 01, 2010, 02:44:36 AM
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.
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Golden Applesauce on December 01, 2010, 02:46:29 AM
Quote from: Kansai on November 30, 2010, 08:35:07 PM
Promote me to this forum's admin; you'll barely be sorry. :wink:

Quote from: Sir Coyote on November 30, 2010, 01:42:11 AM
I think I just shit myself at the awesomeness of that.
I wonder what would happen if the military was organized that way. :fap:


Fixed.

Pedantry will not serve you well here.  Just saying.
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Don Coyote on December 01, 2010, 02:47:54 AM
Quote from: Kansai on November 30, 2010, 08:35:07 PM
Promote me to this forum's admin; you'll barely be sorry. :wink:

Quote from: Sir Coyote on November 30, 2010, 01:42:11 AM
I think I just shit myself at the awesomeness of that.
I wonder what would happen if the military was organized that way. :fap:


Fixed.

Thank you. Some time I forget words.

Also....I smell poptart.
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Requia ☣ on December 01, 2010, 04:21:59 AM
Quote from: Telarus on November 30, 2010, 08:33:35 PM
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.
Title: Re: Applied Physics
Post by: Triple Zero on December 01, 2010, 11:11:31 AM
Quote from: Golden Applesauce on December 01, 2010, 02:44:36 AM
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.

thanks for summing it up, I hadn't read the article yet.

so in short, this wouldn't work for electing admins, cause admins are still active posters, so promoting one to admin doesn't give us one less active poster.