Measurement as Emotional Defence
Executive Summary
In periods of high volatility, organisational demand for data typically spikes. However, paradoxically, the quality of measurement often declines. Leaders retreat into "precision theatre"—the ritualistic tracking of granular, low-value metrics—not to improve performance, but to alleviate anxiety. This report dissects the structural mechanism of "defensive quantification" and provides a roadmap to pivot from "audit culture" to "insight culture."
Diagnostic Analysis: The Architecture of Precision Theatre
The contemporary corporation is awash in data but starved for truth. Following the economic contractions of 2024, executive teams narrowed their focus to high-frequency metrics. This is not analytics; it is an anxiety management ritual known as the McNamara Fallacy (making the measurable important, rather than measuring what is important).
Exhibits
Click quadrants to diagnose your metrics.
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