Episode 56 - A Deep Dive into Measuring Performance and Effect

Battling with Business

In this thought-provoking episode of the innovative business podcast, Battling with Business, former Royal Marines Officer, Gareth Tennant, and Product Manager, Chris Kitchener, stimulate a rich discussion about the critical aspect of measuring success. The episode starts by exploring the triad of effect, performance, and activity, highlighting their integral role in testing business or military assumptions.

The conversation takes an intriguing turn towards scientific principles such as the Heisenberg principle and Schrodinger's cat, as the hosts elucidate their relevance in modern business systems. An analysis based on nation-building in Afghanistan provides listeners with an in-depth look at the challenges faced in gauging the efficacy of projects subject to fluctuating systemic changes.

Tennant and Kitchener draw apt parallels in a business context, illustrating the powerful sway of project governance meetings on team behavior and project reporting. This enlightening episode of Battling with Business provides valuable insights into the complicated process of measuring success, and underscores its significance in strategic decision-making in both military and business landscapes.

Focused on the complex world of measuring performance and effect, the hosts unravel how hidden assumptions shape interpretations of performance. They discuss the critical distinction between measuring internal performance and evaluating its impact on external aspects like customer perception or market reputation. Ultimately, asserting the importance of assessing the right things, this episode encourages listeners to re-evaluate their understanding of measuring success.