Published: September 3, 2011, in The New York Times
Main Argument: The article advocates for evidence-based management over instinct-based approaches and relates this to practices in medicine.
Key Concepts
Evidence-Based Management
Definition: Management approach that emphasizes decision-making based on empirical evidence rather than intuition or anecdotal experience.
Advantage: Reduces errors and improves outcomes by relying on proven data.
Hypothetical Medical Scenario
Situation: A patient undergoes an ineffective and harmful medical procedure because the doctor relied on personal experience rather than scientific research.
Implication: Highlights the risks of not using evidence-based practices, suggesting that similar pitfalls occur in management.
Benefits of Evidence-Based Practices
Medicine Comparison: Just as evidence-based medicine is reducing preventable errors, similar principles can enhance decision-making in management.
Prevention of Errors: Utilizing research and data can prevent costly and ineffective decisions.
Recommendations
Trust Evidence: Encourage reliance on data and research to guide managerial decisions.
Critique of Instinctive Decisions: Warns against the over-reliance on instincts or personal experience without supporting evidence.
About the Authors
Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton are professors at Stanford University.
Authors of the book "Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths, and Total Nonsense: Profiting from Evidence-Based Management."
Additional Information
Article appeared in print on September 4, 2011, Section BU, Page 8 of the New York edition.