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ERIC Number: EJ689861
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Apr
Pages: 8
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0270-4676
EISSN: N/A
The Role of Statistics in Management Magic
Stivers, Richard
Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, v24 n2 p99-106 Apr 2004
Technology and magic both represent the human will to power - to dominate nature and ultimately humans. In a technological civilization, magic imitates technology. Modern management often entails psychological techniques (the human relations approach) and organizational techniques (the scientific approach). The heart of the latter is statistical measurement and prediction of the future. This article examines the magical use of statistical measurement and prediction of the future. Magic here operates according to the principle of the self-fulfilling prophecy. Because statistical information is perceived to be related to the success of an organization and is invariably collected in abundance, it is given credit for actual success.
Sage Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243 (Toll Free); Fax: 800-583-2665 (Toll Free).
Publication Type: Journal Articles
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A