Outliers or Liars

How many of us have been victim to moderation, when it comes to reward and recognition or be it the annual appraisals.  Bell curve has caused more damage to humanity in this new age economy than any other negative events, including that of terrorism. 

After every big event, such as the 9/11 or the recent demonitization, every company exercises a right of right-sizing and laying off as many people as possible. Venting out their fury on all independent thinkers in the corporate family.  Possibly, this is the time to prove the super-managers’ loyalty to the owners and investors and earn more  ESOPs.

Even without big events, as a routine cycle – some companies do the consolidation every two years. Friends who miss the bus, due to such statistical errors, read Outliers, are the first to be shown the door. On the larger scale, statistics on the number of companies in a country, their number employees, damage done to a huge number of such outliers, is humungous and as catastrophic  as any other big event.  Point here is that these are not highlighted or reported in the right measure as the others of such calamity.

To some of you this may seem an overstatement. For those, I suggest a reading on Chaos Theory postulated by Edward Lorenz. Human behaviour is very dynamic, that I am sure none would disagree. When that be so, evaluation of human behaviour through Normalisation processes, and again pruning prospects as Outliers or squeezing them into a Bell Curve is undoubtedly inhuman. Those who make optimal use of the term Outliers are the Liars themselves. Whatever justice that objectivity is supposed to bring in, is swept off by practice of Bell curve and the dynamism of terming the others as Outliers.   

Being from the HR background, I have seen a vast majority of HR professionals, who do not subscribe to the Bell curve concept even from the remotest corner of their self. Yet, exercising from within their professional constraints, follow it religiously.  Also, seek solace by stating they were right.  With those who create such constraints to them, together they get to form a group of Liars.

Now, who would you stand for, Outliers or Liars.