That's an excellent point Karen, thanks for the food for thought.
I was also thinking of your other post regarding the importance of process using the analogy of performance evaluations. What struck me is processes are as you say very important, but there are times when leaders need to put processes aside and thoughtfully consider exceptional circumstances. Let me see if I can think of an example...
Ok, let's say you have this performance based evaluation system, and it's been successful for years. Each year the bottom 10% get fired and the top 10% get a raise. Then one year, someone who has always been one of your strongest performers has an illness and is unable to make many sales. In fact, due largely to the illness his/her performance ranks him/her in the bottom 10%, and according to the "process" must be fired.
Would you look to alter the process, or stick by it no matter what the results?
My point, processes can only take you so far, there is always going to be an exception in which the heuristic judgment of people will prove more valuable to society and to the corporation. This may be one reason to keep human beings in the position of judge a hundred years from now, instead of going down the HAL 2010 route.
I would say the strange circumstances of this case, coupled with the imminent painful death by starvation of the patient, would fit that mold. |
