The Exception May Contain More Information Than the Average

Executive Field Note 046

Organizations depend on averages.

Average performance.

Average customer.

Average response.

Average cost.

Averages make populations manageable.

But the average describes what is common by reducing what is different.

An exception does the opposite.

It reveals something the existing model did not expect.

Most exceptions are merely exceptions.

Some are the first evidence that the model is incomplete.

Executive Question:

Which exception are you dismissing because the average still looks right?

Published by Executive Insights. A publication of Axiom Research Press