The hidden warning behind "what gets measured gets managed" — and why optimization culture misses the point
By
Scott Galloway
Sesame, salt, and substance. A flagship bake.
Summary
This article examines the popular saying "what gets measured gets managed," tracing its origins to business journalist Simon Caulkin (not Peter Drucker) and revealing it as a warning about the dangers of excessive measurement and optimization. The full quote warns that measurement happens even when it's pointless or harmful to organizational purpose. The article connects this to the modern trend of personal optimization through health and fitness apps, suggesting our obsession with data collection can obscure what truly matters.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledWhat gets measured gets managed — even when it's pointless to measure and manage it, and even if it harms the purpose of the organization to do so.
Our mania for measurement can obscure what matters most.
To a point, the more data we collect on ourselves, the better ab
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