THE New Year has already heralded significant changes, making the past year seem like a long time ago, especially having crossed the psychological mid-point of January. One of the themes observed so far has been the tolerance levels that we apply to events taking place around us, and the extent of our comparisons. For example, do you believe that our traditional Asou Square event was bigger and better than the year before? Was it more successful, or more peaceful?
Generally speaking, making comparisons — especially fair comparisons — is a necessary ingredient for progress. Basically, if you don’t measure something, then how do you know about it, or whether it is improving?
When you strip away the strong comments shared on social media about our new Governor General and read through the frenetic fervour of the colourful sentiments expressed, do you get a sense of how he might compare to the past GG? Curiously, even the bitter remarks about unforgivable misdeeds occurring 30 years ago serve a very useful purpose. They put us all on notice, that history is a harsh judge, and might help put us in a frame of mind to chart a new course forward.
Now might be the time to eliminate the absurd 5-year strategic plans, or ridiculously short-term cycles of governance, measurements, and actions. If we focus on long-term prosperity, and think across generations, then comparatively speaking, we would have already made progress.
What else might you compare now that a new year has begun? Maybe annual work performance, crime statistics, or your own measures of peace and progress. Whatever it is, know that this column exists to provide some measure of support and insight. Computers have the built-in ability to compare and sort every character that they know of. That’s an impressive ability that we could harness to measure our own improvements and successes.
Let the work begin to make 2018 our best year yet.
To share your views, contact the author at: www.datashore.net or via The VOICE.
(About the Author: Dr. Lyndell St. Ville is an ICT Consultant offering expertise in data management, systems design and analysis.)