Chance Quote by Venkatesh Narayanamurti
““Evaluation must be done in hindsight, after the work has been done, not for proposals for work to be done. That said, secondary factors must carry some weigh, because research results depend too much on historical contingency and luck. As articulated by Ralph Bown, vice president of research at Bell Labs from 1951 to 1955: 'A conviction on the part of employees that meritorious performance will be honestly appraised and adequately rewarded is a necessary ingredient of their loyalty. This appraisal, to be fair and convincing, must be based on the individual's performance and capabilities rather than wholly on the direct value of his results. A system which rewards only those lucky enough to strike an idea which pays off handsomely will not have the cooperative teamwork needed for vitality of the enterprise as a whole.””
About This Quote
Research evaluation should focus on completed work, accounting for luck and context, while rewarding individual merit to foster teamwork and loyalty.
In simple terms: Judge work after it's done, not proposals, and be fair to individuals.
Key Takeaway
Fair, context‑aware evaluation sustains collaboration.
Themes
research management
evaluation
fairness
teamwork
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
policy recommendation
When to use this quote
- grant funding reviews
- corporate R&D performance reviews
Key Concepts
historical contingency
motivation
Practical Applications
- Implement post‑project assessments
- balance outcome and effort metrics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations measure luck versus skill?
- What safeguards prevent bias in post‑hoc reviews?
A Different Perspective
Over‑emphasis on fairness may dilute incentives for high‑risk, high‑reward innovation.
