Velocirooster adminensis Mar 13, 2024
Algorithms are not magic. They are neither good nor evil, but they also aren't neutral. They are just math recipes written by regular ol' dumb human beings, and so they don't absolve us of our responsibilities as human beings. If anything, they amplify them. If you make a bad batch of enchiladas, that's really just a problem for you. If you program a computer to make unlimited batches of bad enchiladas, well now you are assaulting the entire world—the whole enchilada, as it were.
Show threadDimplesMar 13, 2024

@theropologist
I work in an algorithm heavy industry. The majority of executives do not understand what an algorithm is, let alone how they work. They just like that they get the answers they want without having to do the hard work needed to figure out the why and how.

They are mathematical ginned down answers to Human questions. If you ask the program a flawed question, you’ll still get an answer, just not the correct one.
Garbage in, garbage out as they say.

Show threadAaronMar 13, 2024

@Magooish @theropologist Seconded. Had a boss once who had to ask if accuracy was a good thing.

Most of the time, throughout my career, they really just wanted the ugly truths to be swept under the rug as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Show threadDimplesMar 13, 2024

@hosford42 @Magooish @theropologist True.

They also don’t want anyone to know how utterly unqualified and unprepared they are to be making the day to day decisions of the corporation. It’s unicorn adjacent to actually find an executive who knows how to lead while interpreting data to assist in creating good ethical paths forward - and to ask hard questions about how data was collected.

Professional ethics not a thing for most people in the nose bleed seats.

Show threadAaron
@Magooish @theropologist I'm of the opinion that a truly good leader doesn't have to be able to interpret data. They just need to be good at identifying people who can be trusted with that, and then not only giving those people the responsibility to handle it, but ensuring their voices are heard. (Same goes for any other technical skill important to the organization, but especially data.)
Mar 13, 2024 at 4:27pmWeb
Show threadDimplesMar 13, 2024
@hosford42 @Magooish @theropologist I won’t disagree , but often no questions get asked about how that data was collected and rather it has gone thru enough due diligence. That’s what I mean when I say understanding data. They don’t ever wonder if any of it could be wrong.
Math is great, but it is a simple tool. Leadership and decision making is hard because it means you have to be curious about how things happen, what’s not apparent in the math, and make hard choices.