What weighs more: an ounce of gold or an ounce of lead?
Most people tend to answer, "they weigh the same" or they intuitively think that an ounce of lead weighs more because lead is perceived as something heavy.
In all likelihood, an ounce of gold actually weighs more. This is because gold is typically weighed using the troy scale, and an ounce on the troy scale is about 10% more than an ounce on the standard scale. [One troy ounce (ozt) = 1.0971 ounces (oz)]
The troy scale is a remnant of the Roman system that retained the troy measurement system for gold, silver, platinum and gunpowder. So should you find yourself buying or selling any of these commodities, it would be helpful to understand what scale is being used.
The same applies in the organizational world. Before you make assumptions that the numbers you are looking at are comparable, it would be behoove you to understand the context and scale of your data. Whenever you are weighing things -- be it measurements, values, alternatives or costs -- check to see that the scale you accept as standard is the one the other party is using as well.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
*thanks to CLK for the factoid and inspiration
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