Collected thoughts on Camelot and the 360° Assessment #2
Taken from the private notes of King's Author's Fool,
Dated October 20, 530 Anno Domini
Yesterday, I received a message from the Fool employed by the King of Clueless. Recently they had a kingdom-wide 360° assessment and received some interesting results from the largest city in each of the two largest provinces. I was interested in his observations and asked him to give me a little background on his experience.
The Fool explained that Green Province knights lived in the city of Integrity with Prince Perspective. The Black Province knights lived with Prince Covert in Machiaville. During his review, the Clueless King noticed that Integrity's Likability Index scores were scattered high and low across the various assessment categories. The King had trouble interpreting the data from Integrity and wondered why the knights of Integrity couldn't get aligned. Surely, he reasoned, that could not be productive. By way of contrast, the Machiaville data was routinely high, consistent and predictable. It was almost as if the data was sketched by one artistic hand. The King liked the consistency of the data in Machiaville and liked Machiaville knights as a result. Machiaville looked like one big happy family.
The Overt Knights were the highest echelon of knights in Integrity. They routinely debated and Integrity issues and often dealt with them even before they presented them to Prince Perspective. Invariably, the Prince either encouraged them in their efforts, or, asked questions that made the Overt Knights consider once again, their logic, process and conclusions. These knights were much more concerned with good governance than about how it might look to outsiders. It just seemed an a priori assumption that the King would understand how hard it is to manage a diverse province.
The Covert Knights were the mid-level managers of Machiaville and didn't have to worry about the King. Prince Covert of Machiaville singlehandedly controlled Machiaville's internal processes and decisions. The prince also controlled how, what and when information was communicated outside the province. Prince Covert was also an expert in accident prevention and went out of his way to guide the King when the King was interpreting the meaning of the Index scores. The Fool added as a footnote "Prince Covert was just made second in command to the King." I waited for someone else to tell King Arthur about this promotion.
A few days later, I dreamed about how the first 360° Index started. It began just a little over three years ago when kings Author and Clueless were riding their donkey's to Farnborough. As they traveled, they conceived the 360° Index assessment as a way to improve each kingdom's morale. Along the way, the kings also developed set of knight skills upon which they would be measured. On the way back from Farnborough, they decided on an implementation plan, schedule and a matrix of responsibilities. King Clueless was to lead the development of the assessment. On arriving home King Clueless set things in motion. With the king's help, the Likability Index process was designed. He then turned the project over to his wizards and some other capable stooges.
I remember well that the king was not happy when it took over a year to complete this simple project. It baffled him to think the "wizards" were so inept. Every delay confirmed his belief that he had superior wizardry in accomplishing the project.Within days of completing the first round of Likability 360° Index assessments, both Kings declared that this project was a success. In an instant, my dream jumped to six months later. By that time, the secondary effects of the 360° Index assessment came down like an avalanche over the top of the wizards. As the avalanche cascaded, the both kings stepped back to safety. In fact, neither king could be found. The wizards had to dig out of it on their own.
As the dream continued, mayhem ensued.The Purple Knights either got booted out or overlooked for the next promotions. Some got discouraged enough to leave the kingdom and join forces with USvsThem Army. The prime offensive weapon of USvsThem is called "Lawsuit." Many Grey Knights also joined USvsThem, as they complained about the class distinctions and unfair practices. Rose and Covert Knights grew in strength and number. Soon everyone understood the difference between what was written on the Likability Index and what was real. Together, they became the local USvsThem underground resistance movement. They sent letters to other kings and dignitaries who could put various pressures on Arthur and Clueless. They were never seen by any of the royalty, but the royals saw them around every corner. Distrust, so much distrust. I'm still of the opinion that if any other king has any sense at all, they would have invaded these two kingdoms. On the bright side, Overt Knights kept working at the practical and pressing issues. Some were rewarded, some were not.
I remember evaluating the impact of the assessment project. As far as I could tell, no one was able to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Likability Index for improving the selection, retention or promotion of capable knights. On the personal side, I believe the Likability Index was a viable diagnostic tool for the Knights of Integrity - even though they would have been working on the same issues anyway. It seemed to be the essential aspect of their nature.
As a reality, and then as a dream, I reaffirmed my earlier conclusions. First, that effective 360° assessments require two to three times as much effort, resources and wisdom than anyone could have estimated in the beginning. Second, that secondary effects can far outweigh the probable gains. And third, that if the king wants to keep a productive knight staff, then after the assessment "following up" with the knights will take about ten times as much resources as it did to build the assessment in the first place.
As I think about it, it wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare.
The King's Fool and
Wizard Pianissimo Vo'ce
