The challenge in analytic objectivity is not on the process of analyzing. It is on the presentation of the product of analogy. Being objective in anything you do is easily a cinch, you just have to take heart that the accuracy of the information you impart is a serious accountability, and policies and future actions will be hinged on the veracity of the information we relay.
However, the trip to objectivity does not always have successful endings. The process is not always hunky dory all the way, in fact the hurdles might be coming towards the latter part of the whole process, the delivery.
Of course, we never be able discount the influence our past experiences have on the outcome of our analysis. There have been advances made in the setting up of strict parameters on analytic methodology, but still the final product of human analysis is highly prone to the human prejudicial nature. Somehow, we come to a particular topic where we have already stereotyped a particular segment of which, and it would be a big personal lie if we look it in a totally unbiased fashion. At most, the milieu we live in, together with its different media, help cloud our own perception of things.
If one is able to overcome this inherent error and come up with analysis that is free from bias partiality, well and good. However, what if the bosses are the ones “wanting” and “expecting” a predetermined stand? What if after putting forth your earnest effort and presenting the most objective analysis on a particular research item, your managers totally disregarded your findings and diverted your focus to an item not on the possible reasons list? It only means that the higher ups have honed in on a totally different end result and they were expecting your research would vindicate their partiality. It may not be intentional, they might be working on what we call “seniority hunch” which is a classic example of what we discussed awhile ago, bias based on past experience.
Whether the attempt to veer us from being objective is conscious or not, it is our responsibility to put things right back on track. We can rephrase the question in a different way as to highlight only the more objective aspects of the issue and give a more impartial scenario. Everyone has to realize that the relationship between analyst and management is two-way, not authoritarian.
