The Whistle Blower

Can we know the truth if we do are jobs competently? Sometimes...but also one big question remains...can we handle the truth? And the truth shall set us free...right? If that were true we wouldn't have to deal with the term, "Whistle Blower". The truth might hurt, it might even cost us our jobs. But we would be free. John Boyd didn't ask for a salary in his post retirement years so he could remain completely independent of bias. Most of us don't have that luxury. But by seeking the truth, we could be labeled a profession of whistle blowers. I've done very little analysis where during the process someone didn't have a little secret or fact they would rather not have surfaced. And that's the dirtiest little secret of all.

Whether we like it our not, we are the ones who have to tell our bosses the bad news. Now, we are not saying that our work cannot produce answers that are not bad news. Indeed our work can produce good news – but that news of marginal value. Those decisions are easy to make. Everyone is on board; this idea is self evident, everyone will make money and every body wins. The analyst is hardly noticed at all. We have referred to this person as the marketer. If you know the truth and sell out, you are a charlatan or worse. If you say nothing, you are a coward. It is the bad news to which everyone takes notice. And there is only one person in the room speaking of the bad news – the analyst.

We can chose to do so quietly or we can chose to tell the media. I would suggest telling your boss first. If your boss shoots the messenger then perhaps you were in the wrong place and you should go tell the media. If you boss hugs you and tells you he will implement all of your recommendations immediately, please call me, I would like to send you my resume. If, what’s more likely to happen occurs, your boss tells you he appreciates your work, thanks you, and sends you back to your office feeling elated and some real job satisfaction that is the best the analyst can hope for.

Unfortunately, in a few days, when you realize that your recommendations have not been implemented, you might not feel as elated and might again feel the gates of AP closing in. What went wrong? You must have been the smartest person in the room and you were bold, man you were bold in there, and at times gusting to arrogant, what happened. Have you been labeled a pariah, a whistle blower? Should you start looking for a new job? Was your analysis debunked? Are their critics out there you don’t know about? Did you do something wrong in your analysis? Are you becoming paranoid and perhaps losing your mind? Do you see the PM walking behind you down the street? What happened? Chances are, you did your job right, exactly right. If you are not upsetting someone you are probably not doing your job. Unfortunately, what happened is leadership. Good or bad, we as analysts don’t make the decisions, they do – and it’s time to fully consider that truth as well.

Based on Actual Events

The account described in our 8 Sept Blog was based on actual events. The analyst is real. He is an intelligent and extremely loyal member of a corporate team. He is an operations expert who had spent significant time in the field, as well as in school to become an analyst. A practical if not recognized expert on both the subject to which he spoke and analysis to which he conducted. Before the study even began the pudgy finger poking PM was asked the simple question...If the results of the analysis are negative towards your program what will you do? The PM was confident and optimistic in his response that he was a company man and a team player. He wanted only the best for the organization and he would support the study to the fullest. It was only a matter of days before the PM started stone walling the analysis team. Despite the barriers placed in their way, the analysis team moved forward, uncovering and discovering many interesting and contrary facts along the way. When the study was complete the team dutifully briefed the PM. The team was immediately descended upon by legions of critics attempting to pull apart the analysis. Briefing after briefing was conducted and the analysis and analyst stood firm – yet no one would tell the CEO that a mistake had been made. Lips were sealed until it was apparent that another company was becoming a potential competitor. When the analysis team could no longer sit on the truth it was taken to the CEO. The results are now history. The analyst was promoted early and will return to operations. The PM was last seen attending a retirement seminar. And the Truth shall set you free…