Science or Moral Values*

[David Kerridge <dfkerridge@mac.com>]

Ed Baker raises the question of whether our management of
people should be governed by science or by moral values.
I do not think we disagree about this, but the question is
worth asking.

Why should we suppose that the two are in conflict? Bad science
and bad values often are in conflict, but that disappears when we
get both right. At least, if I am wrong about this, can anyone
give a counter example?

To treat people as if they are machines is bad science. It is
cruel, and it doesn't work. To punish or reward people for
the results of the system, likewise.

Most apparent conflicts come from assessing things by their
short-term effects, or their local effects, ignoring the rest of
the system. In other words they are due to bad science.

As I understand it, the Deming Management Philosophy
is concerned with removing conflicts of all kinds, by
deeper insight into the way the world *really* works.