- Joined
- Feb 2, 2008
- Messages
- 3,059
It's true you can compare Apples and Oranges -somewhat. Good to know the difference though. It's kind of a problem if an Orange Grove Owner in McAllen in Deep South Texas in the Rio Grande Valley (where it is basically an Oven for half the year) decides to plant Apple trees in the middle of his groves. After all - he knows lots about good practices for "growing fruit". But Apple trees require a different environment and most of what he does to raise his oranges is inapplicable to the Apple business. So- comparisons that ignore fundamental differences of environment can academically be made, but practically they often have a rather limited utility.Hornet is correct. You CAN compare "Apples to Oranges". I have a colleague here at the school I work at that teaches students how to do JUST that. BTW-She teaches QM or Quantitative Methods and she actually uses the book by Angrist & Pischke.
While I am no EXPERT on the subject, I am reading the book to better my knowledge and insight so that I can give more depth in my Org Theory Class.
Kristoff is a smart and accomplished journalist- but plenty of those out there- to be articulate and well educated doesn't mean he's right or that his insight is unquestionable. In this article, notice that he has taken programs and implied that they are "liberal" rather than innovative and appropriate for the situation. But plenty of "conservative" businesses have adopted many of these same programs for their own situations where they are appropriate. What Mr Kristoff is attempting to do is wrap the popularity of the military around social programs that he advocates. Clever approach.
I don't think there were any posters who disagree that the military has a lot of progressive personnel programs which have been very successful at attracting and retaining top notch personnel and which have had some very beneficial side affects for the population who have served. But many of those same posters are pretty leary about extrapolating success in a self selected organization of 2 million with coercive powers and applying those lessons to a society of 300 million people. It is a case of applying specific Orange tree growing techniques and planting Apple trees in the Rio Grande Valley and expecting a great crop of MacIntosh apples.
Kristoff was a Rhodes scholar which means he's a bright guy and a bright journalist. It doesn't mean that I need to agree or fawn over his commentary as it applies to the political landscape. It's nice to see the article because frankly it helps military guys dispel the impression that we are knuckle dragging cretins who accomplish our missions by coercion and raised voices. In short- the more folks who learn that the Military approaches personnel management issues and problems creatively with positive leadership and management techniques, the more job opportunities military vets will get when they exit the military.