[Web4lib] The data death spiral

[e roel]

Hi Alexander,

Not only do I feel like I am living in that spiral, I have come to the
conclusion that all decisions are made, quite contrarily, _without data_. 
And, when data is utilized, it is with some simplistic use of it, that lacks
any real understanding of synergistic interactions or emergent properties,
from chemistry to social psychology to economics to management.  Everyone is
making decisions based on what can fit onto a notecard.  I mean, I know that
some things are designed based on the golden ratio - but come on (;-)).  I see
many extremely significant decisions made on this or little more.


------ Original Message ------
Received: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 08:31:39 PM EST
From: Alexander Johannesen <alexander.johannesen at gmail.com>
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] The data death spiral

> Hi folks,
> 
> On the SIGIA-L list someone pointed to
> http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/?p=147, and I got stuck on number two
> ;
> 
> "No opinions are considered without data. Opinions are good if they
> come from smart thoughtful experts. If you are in a world where you,
> as an expert, can't make obvious improvements without 10 pages of
> supporting material, guess what happens? Nothing happens. People spend
> all their time defending the obvious and the scale of work, and the
> energy to improve, drops dramatically."
> 
> Given the commitee structures of the library world, does anybody but
> me feel I'm living in this spiral?
> 
> 
> Alex
> --
> "Ultimately, all things are known because you want to believe you know."
>                                                          - Frank Herbert
> __ http://shelter.nu/ __________________________________________________
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>