Business Perspectives: Objectivism Versus Subjectivism

When looking toward improvement and cost savings or any other problem in the world the words objectivism and subjectivism might come to mind. Objectivism refers to the concept of being objective and scientific in your approaches to understanding problems. Subjective refers to the concept of allowing the emotions to stir in making one's decisions according to principles, feeling, enthusiasm, optimism and anything else that is not covered by hard facts. Modern business problems can be solved by both objective and subjective approaches to understanding problems.

Objectively we can look toward the numbers associated with ROI, revenues, sunk costs, output and other factors. Management has become accustomed to solving problems by "painting by the numbers". They research problems by looking at these data drivers and determining the next approach of business objectives. In most situations this is a very progressive approach that lets organizational leaders know precisely how their business is doing. Being aware of the business is half the battle.

However, focusing exclusively on numbers ignores major contributors and motivations that can seriously impact productivity and profitability. For example, one could look at back of a skilled labor pool in terms of lost productivity numbers or lack of motivation. The former has a wider and more serious implication. Without a workforce willing to work hard, learn throughout their lifetimes, and put forward their best effort there may not be innovation, productivity and ultimately profitability when compared to competitors.

Therefore, business must also look toward the subjective approaches when trying to figure out how a business becomes successful. If workers view the workplace as unfair, unjust, and without meaning then they will simply "punch the clock" and put in their hours. However, if executives can develop egalitarian approaches to business then workers may make miracles happen. These miracles happen because the mind is willing to believe in something beyond self interest.

Subjective insight has a great benefit to solving problems if it is balance by objectivity. It is not enough to cut out the wastes in processes if employees are not willing to follow these processes. Certainly you can cut out waste of resources but you can't cut out the waste that happens in people's minds when they care not for the success of the organization. One must look beyond the numbers in order to understand human motivation. True problem solving uses both subjective creativity and objective measurements in order to understand and solve problems.