From 29d65cbb0a1181b2217d24f680c6900267e63d0b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dave Kerr Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2019 10:38:03 +0800 Subject: [PATCH] chore: put Goodheart's law in alphabetic position --- README.md | 50 +++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------------- 1 file changed, 25 insertions(+), 25 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 8dc2f72..0aec670 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ Like this project? Please considering [Sponsoring Me](https://github.com/sponsor * [Cunningham's Law](#cunninghams-law) * [Dunbar's Number](#dunbars-number) * [Gall's Law](#galls-law) + * [Goodhart's Law](#goodharts-law) * [Hanlon's Razor](#hanlons-razor) * [Hofstadter's Law](#hofstadters-law) * [Hutber's Law](#hutbers-law) @@ -42,7 +43,6 @@ Like this project? Please considering [Sponsoring Me](https://github.com/sponsor * [The Spotify Model](#the-spotify-model) * [Wadler's Law](#wadlers-law) * [Wheaton's Law](#wheatons-law) - * [Goodhart's Law](#goodharts-law) * [Principles](#principles) * [The Dilbert Principle](#the-dilbert-principle) * [The Pareto Principle (The 80/20 Rule)](#the-pareto-principle-the-8020-rule) @@ -163,6 +163,30 @@ See also: - [KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)](#the-kiss-principle) +### Goodhart's Law + +[The Goodhart's Law on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhart's_law) + +> Any observed statistical regularity will tend to collapse once pressure is placed upon it for control purposes. +> +> _Charles Goodhart_ + +Also commonly referenced as: + +> When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. +> +> _Marilyn Strathern_ + +The law states that the measure-driven optimizations could lead to devaluation of the measurement outcome itself. Overly selective set of measures ([KPIs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_indicator)) blindly applied to a process results in distorted effect. People tend to optimize locally by "gaming" the system in order to satisfy particular metrics instead of paying attention to holistic outcome of their actions. + +Real-world examples: +- Assert-free tests satisfy the code coverage expectation, despite the metric intent was to create well-tested software. +- Developer performance score indicated by the number of lines committed leads to unjustifiably bloated codebase. + +See also: +- [Goodhart’s Law: How Measuring The Wrong Things Drive Immoral Behaviour](https://coffeeandjunk.com/goodharts-campbells-law/) +- [Dilbert on bug-free software](https://dilbert.com/strip/1995-11-13) + ### Hanlon's Razor [Hanlon's Razor on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor) @@ -424,30 +448,6 @@ See also: Coined by Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory), this simple, concise, and powerful law aims for an increase in harmony and respect within a professional organization. It can be applied when speaking with coworkers, performing code reviews, countering other points of view, critiquing, and in general, most professional interactions humans have with each other. -### Goodhart's Law - -[The Goodhart's Law on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhart's_law) - -> Any observed statistical regularity will tend to collapse once pressure is placed upon it for control purposes. -> -> _Charles Goodhart_ - -also known as: - -> When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. -> -> _Marilyn Strathern_ - -The law states that the measure-driven optimizations could lead to devaluation of the measurement outcome itself. Overly selective set of measures ([KPIs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_indicator)) blindly applied to a process results in distorted effect. People tend to optimize locally by "gaming" the system in order to satisfy particular metrics instead of paying attention to hollistic outcome of their actions. - -Real-world examples: -- Assert-free tests satisfy the code coverage expectation, despite the metric intent was to create well-tested software. -- Developer performance score indicated by the number of lines committed leads to unjustifiably bloated codebase. - -See also: -- [Goodhart’s Law: How Measuring The Wrong Things Drive Immoral Behaviour](https://coffeeandjunk.com/goodharts-campbells-law/) -- [Dilbert on bug-free software](https://dilbert.com/strip/1995-11-13) - ## Principles Principles are generally more likely to be guidelines relating to design.