Re: The % of red beads

[Myron Tribus <mtribus@earthlink.net>]

I must be missing something in this discussion.  The debate seems to revolve around the question of the "proper" percentage of red beads in the mixture used in the "red bead experiment".  A few people have used the fraction of red beads in the mixture to predict the fraction of red that will show up on the paddle.
Here is my take on the issue:
1. It does not really matter what the proportion of rea beads may be.
2. What really matters is that the "willing workers" should be chastised and rewarded for their "performance" as they realize the system determines the results, not how hard they try.
3. Careful obsersvers will learn that the proportion of red beads on the paddles is NOT the proportion in the mix because red beads will have slightly different surface properties (i.e., electrical charge) and in the mixing process will not necessarily show up in their proportion.
4. The "willoing workers" and the "observers" will see that the elaborate inspection and recording process represents useless information, providing no basis for improvement and falsely gradingk, punishing and rewarding the workers.
5. Morale can never improve under such a situation.

There is no requirement that the percentage of red beads reflect today's quality or lcak thereof.  The objective of the experiment is purely psychological, not simulation.

What is the basis for this debate?

Myron Tribus, mtribus@earthlink.net
"You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing,
After they have tried everything else" W. Churchill