OUTCOME
What are analogous outcomes?
Any events that have resembling results can be considered analogous outcomes (somewhat similar in this respect). Events that have somewhat similar beginnings, or similar periodicity, or similar progression, or similar endings, may for any of these reasons be considered analogous. If events have similar kinds or rates of success, or failure, it can be argued that they have analogous outcomes. If the implications, impacts or consequences of certain happenings are somewhat similar, we may categorize them as analogous outcomes. The processes or techniques which produced these outcomes need not be identical or similar in any way – a “successful” robbery and a “successful” rescue may both still be considered “successes.”
The most problematic analogous outcomes are of a functional nature. Does, or should social or governmental budgeting have an analogous outcome to personal budgeting? Do events in the real world have outcomes analogous to those simulated in a model? The more general question is: Do analogous outcomes scale or transfer well? In other words, how far can you push the analogy before it begins to give results which are completely discrepant from experience? In theory, practice follows theory – in practice it doesn’t.
How are analogous outcomes used?
A major use of analogous outcomes is to set goals. In business strategy the metaphor often used is that of military strategy – “dominate” and “destroy” your competition. In sports, the same metaphor is also popular – “beat” and “humiliate” your opponents. A more benign rendition is usually used for symbolic contests – “strive to be number one” or “let’s climb that Everest!”
Here too however, what are usually advocated are only the outcomes and not the processes. If an exemplary outcome is later proven to have been achieved through fraud, theft or intimidation, then only the success and not the method will be advocated. Mussolini’s regime is often credited with getting Italian trains to run on schedule – no doubt a worthy outcome, but not a recommendation to use the regime’s other methods!
Another longstanding use of analogous outcomes is in functional justifications – the end justifies the means. Examples of this kind of thinking are the following: (1) Businesses provide jobs and prosperity, so whatever they ask for from societies or governments should be granted. (2) The police protect citizens from criminals, so their transgressions of the law should be overlooked. (3) The military fights for national security, so their maltreatment of foreign civilians and combatants should be ignored. (4) Skilled immigrants may be more competitive workers than a nation’s citizens, so the immigrants’ accreditation should not be recognized to protect jobs. (5) Some corruption and theft is inevitable, so such victimless crime as white-collar crime should be generally tolerated. All of these views are quite prevalent, but so is resistance to them.
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