Episode 144 : on the use of KPIs

Episode 144 : on the use of KPIs

Author: Bart Vanderhaegen April 19, 2023 Duration: 12:36


Key aspects discussed related to how companies typically use KPIs

  1. Start from the KPI and not from the problem and solution (for which the KPI was supposed to be an indicator)

  2. Corrective actions are parochial and without causal power

  3. Corrective actions that have causal power are corrective explanations and contain not only an action but also a goal and argument for how the action will cause the goal, but the corrective explanation is disconnected from the original explanation, i.e. does not serve to improve either one of both or both

  4. KPI focus leads to the idea that only KPIs are a relevant source to criticise a solution. Whereas *any* creative argument can serve as good criticism to improve a solution (think about the aspects of a solution that are still not measurable because too early stage for example)



Bart Vanderhaegen hosts Rapid Idea Improvement, a podcast that digs into a powerful and practical question: how do ideas actually get better? Instead of staying in the abstract, it applies the principles of knowledge growth-particularly those from thinkers like Karl Popper and David Deutsch-to the messy, real-world domains of business, management, and economics, while also reaching into fields like physics for broader insight. Each episode is an exploration of critical rationalism in action, examining how we can systematically criticize and refine our thinking to solve problems more effectively. You’ll hear discussions that treat business challenges not as puzzles with fixed answers, but as opportunities for evolutionary idea improvement, where bold conjectures and rigorous error-correction drive progress. This isn't about motivational tips or surface-level analysis; it's about building a deeper framework for understanding how knowledge expands, and then using that framework to make your own thinking more potent and adaptable. The conversations in this podcast are for anyone who suspects that the way we approach problems-in leadership, strategy, or innovation-can be fundamentally upgraded. By weaving together epistemology with practical application, the show aims to provide listeners with a genuinely useful toolkit for accelerating the development of their most important ideas.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Rapid Idea Improvement
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