STRATEGY
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Elementary, Sherlock Drucker The great management consultant Peter Drucker’s spiritual home was 221b Baker Street, writes William A Cohen
Sherlock Holmes had the amazing ability to deduce facts from what he saw. Yet his assistant, Dr John Watson, complained of his own inability to do the same. Holmes responded: “On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, however, to reason from what you see.” The great fictional sleuth pointed to a great truth – one must not only observe, but also analyse and draw conclusions from the observations. In that regard, Holmes had a real-life adherent in Peter Drucker. For Holmes’ talent was Drucker’s too.
Drucker used his powers of observation and reasoning to determine theory, then tested this theory Dialogue Q2 2018
Drucker’s methodology
Drucker empirically observed the general properties of phenomena and the responses to the questions he asked. He did not start with synthetic mathematical formulae into which data was inserted to determine what was to be done, but used his powers of observation and reasoning to determine theory, then tested this theory as he saw it applied. This is perhaps why he insisted on measurements and numbers when seeking to measure performance and progress, yet ignored quantitative methods for developing theory or strategy. This was part of Drucker’s vast mental arsenal. You cannot replicate his mathematical equations, or his favourite methods of determining significant differences, because there were none. But everyone can understand the processes of his thinking to replicate his problem-solving and decision-making methods.