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Owning Numerical Ignorance

Improvements are impossible unless learning and understanding come first

Kevin Meyer
Wed, 10/07/2015 - 12:46
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Awhile ago I discussed the value created by writing by hand. By writing on whiteboards or scribbling in a notebook, ownership, learning, and understanding is created. Similarly, truly understanding numbers creates ownership, learning, and understanding—thereby creating the potential for action.

I’m not talking about statistics or the interpretation of statistics. We all know that different perspectives can be “created” from otherwise accurate data to tell any story. Just ask anyone in Washington, D.C.—from any side.

I’m talking about numbers that don’t accurately reflect underlying conditions, or numbers that don’t relate to the reality of the process owners.

As one example, here’s a recent photo from my local gas station on the central coast of California. As my brother in-law remarked while visiting from Michigan, “That’s not per gallon, right?” Yep, per gallon, typical for all gas stations around here, and yes, far more than most other parts of the country are paying.

 …

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Submitted by Alan Metzel on Wed, 10/07/2015 - 10:36

Numerical Ignorance

Your gasoline analogy can spread much further. How many times is it reported, "The XYZ Petroleum Corp made 33 billion dollars profit last quarter." I have never heard "The XYZ Petroleum Corp made 10.2 cents per gallon profit on gasoline last quarter."

I would not expect any improvement until critical thinking becomes fashionable again.

“It is not sufficient to know the right answers. One must also know the questions that produced them." - Neil Postman

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Submitted by Steve Moore on Wed, 10/07/2015 - 13:01

In reply to Numerical Ignorance by Alan Metzel

Taxes

The GOVERNMENT(s) actually make more money on a gallon of galoline than the oil companies!  Imagine that!

Imagine the revolt there would be if each tax-paying citizen had to write a check to the government each month for their income taxes.  One person actually told me that he didn't pay income taxes because he got a few hundred dollars refund every year!  I did not argue: As comedian Ron White says, "You can't cure stupid!"

 

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