[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Except for All the Others

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Except for All the Others
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1247927952.shtml


   [1]A St. Paul fireman has filed suit, repeatedly passed over for a
   promotion despite his high exam score. Sound familiar? As in Ricci and
   Sotomayor?
   The use of testing in hiring and promotion seems logical enough, that
   it should impart a strong measure of fairness. And yet it doesn't
   somehow. Worse, these matters seem to be increasing winding up in the
   courts. But even here justice isn't always obtained, even if the
   testing in question should be the sole criterion.
   A certain amount of testing is good, essential in some cases,
   including fire fighting. But mostly, that's at the entry levels. There
   is critically required knowledge. There is also physical ability,
   where strength and agility translate into speed, speed that saves
   lives as well as property.
   But above the first level or two, it's a lot more subjective. As a
   supervisor, you must be a leader, one who gets things done by
   organizing and directing others to do it. As a line manager, you must
   now also analyze methods and the results they produce, and try to find
   better, faster methods. As a general manager, you have to balance
   results and the budget. As the chief executive, you must deal with the
   public, and increasingly, government.
   Testing other than on the job evaluation isn't much help. Neither is
   formal education. The higher you go, the more subjective it becomes.
   It has to, because this is "born, not made" territory, and most of us
   aren't born that way.
   It used to be that businesses and other organizations could hire and
   fire at will. Yes, that meant racism, sexism, nepotism, and all those
   other ills that we thought government could prevent, and it did to an
   extent I suppose. But I'd argue that this was a problem that was
   getting better anyway. The net gain is hard to quantify.
   The unintended consequence is that it has enabled a new class of
   incompetent, clueless managers who hide behind these tests and
   regulations. Conversely, let us suppose that an able St. Paul Fire
   Chief has valid reasons for picking around the candidate now suing.
   Despite making the right decision, the law may force the City to hire
   the wrong candidate.
   I know I'm just dreaming and pontificating, but that's what blogs are
   for. Me, I'd do away with most of this managerial level testing and
   certification. The best of principals may have been the most mediocre
   of teachers. The best of teachers seldom make great principals.
   They're totally different jobs and you cannot measure the differences.

References

   1. http://tinyurl.com/lwrhyn