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POSSIBLY Incomplete Message: Re: Hiring for attitude

  • 1.  POSSIBLY Incomplete Message: Re: Hiring for attitude

    Posted 05-04-1997 11:36
    Robert Bacal <rbacal@escape.ca> wrote:

    >>... the part that perplexes me is the
    extent to which there is an issue of
    assigning fault, which hardly seems to
    be a means of improving hiring...<<

    "Blame" means "to assign responsibility". When discussing problems
    we need to know what the cause of the problems are and "to assign
    responsibility", i.e., blame. Since we are not using names it
    is faster and easier to type "blame" than to type
    "assign responsibility."

    I agree that when we are talking with an individual we ought not
    to use the word "blame" since it may dredge up childhood feelings.
    However, when we are discussing problems in general it helps to use
    words that are precise and "blame" is one of those words.

    >>... before we go round blaming anyone....<<

    I wasn't aware that we blamed anyone.

    Did anyone use a person's name?

    Do not confuse blame, i.e., to assign responsibility, with pointing
    an angry finger in an accusatory manner.

    >>... AT BEST we are trying to increase
    the probability of a successful hire...<<

    That is obvious, since employees do not come with guarantees.

    >>... it will remain a probabilistic
    issue until such point that we can
    determine with 100% sureness that
    any given hire will succeed...<<

    What is the point? You stated a truism but is it relevant to
    the issue of hiring, I think not.

    >>... I do not believe that the
    employer can, WITH certainty..<<

    Death is the only certainty so why even mention it? Employers can't
    do anything with certainty of results.

    >>... only a fuzzy probabilistic
    conclusion is possible...<<

    If your standard is "100% certainty", then you are correct,
    but as far as I know that standard is not used in business
    except maybe in the funeral business.

    >>... I find it questionable that anyone
    in the selection business would write
    "as if" we can provide certainty...<<

    I find it interesting that any