Should your workplace have tolerances built in, so reliable work can be done even if an office psychopath ...?

Question

...joins the organization.

"Big systems work the same way an electronic device works, tolerances for variances are factored into the design. So even if some of the components deviate from the absolute value, the device as a whole still functions. If every component in your TV set was expected to retain its original manufactured value, and was designed under that assumption, it would last about about an hour, depending on the ambient room temperature"

To bondy,
Terrific insight. Thanks.

Answer 1

I am not sure what you mean by the quotation you have appended. But I do know something about having an office psychopath. I worked at a Post Office that had an employee who later, after discharge, returned and shot herself after shooting and killing seven other people. I knew this person and her victims well. She was a likable person and I was concerned about her as were others, as her mental illness was apparent. She was a good worker and we had no warnings of what was to come. I never saw her hostile to anyone and she had physical job injuries for which I pitied her. I tried to encourage her and wished I could help her, as did others. In one way, we were too helpful, because giving her our friendship and concern did allow her to later kill all these innocent people. But if we refuse help to everyone who has problems, even non-hostile mentally ill people, we would not be good people because most mentally ill people never hurt anyone. It is a terrible risk we have to take to be human to each other. I am really not sorry that I gave a measure of friendship to this person. I don't blame anyone for what happened, as it never would have happened if anyone had realized what was going to happen.

Answer 2

Within any organization there should -always- be checks and balances built into the system so that several people (the more, the better) have to 'bless' an item before it's released to production and to the customer.
Unfortunately, in the rush of trying to meet deadlines, most organizations let things such as that slide. And it's usually to their ultimate regret. But try and explain that to your boss while she's trying to look to -her- boss who, in turn, is trying to look to -their- boss...........
And when it finally all goes to hell in a handbasket. Then there's what's referred to in the literature as a 'massive catch 'em fµcj 'em' in which the innocent are punished and the guilty are rewarded.
That's why I got out of the aerospace circle-jerk 19 years ago. I've been a consultant for the last 19 years and when I see problems such as that, I mention it to the management. And, if they choose to disbelieve me, I pack up and walk.
And I usually call them a few months later with an innocent, "How's that project going?" Knowing full well (thru the grapevine) that it's in a total shambles, a dozen or so people are about to get fired, and their customer has already 'pulled the plug' on any further funding.
Life is good ☺

Doug