Administrators who consider individual human cases undermine mechanical administrative systems

Evidence

Moses did not deny there was a human element involved; he knew of its existence all too well—it was constantly interfering with the mathematical perfection of his system, and it must be suppressed. “It is essential,” he said, “to have a definite, almost a mechanical, program of adjustments in order to avoid personal and political pressure.” For some reason, it was hard to make examiners understand this. They were always becoming sympathetic to individuals and talking about the “human factor,” and “an examiner who…always wishes to take the ‘human factor’ into consideration is a dangerous man to associate with such work. The consideration of the ‘human factor’ is entirely a matter of policy for policy-determining bodies in applying salary and grade specifications.” — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 323

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the theme of bureaucratic rationality suppressing the human element found across Max Weber on bureaucracy and the iron cage; also parallels the examination-system critiques in other biographies. — connects to: Algorithmic management strips workers of any human authority to contest discipline — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 119

Broader Connections

• Algorithmic management strips workers of any human authority to contest discipline #corroborates (0.85) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 119