What matters can’t always be measured
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By Kim Deans
We had some enlightening group conversations last week while I was facilitating whole farm planning workshops. I was encouraging a group to consider forms of monitoring that could provide valuable feedback to support them as they work towards their vision and goals. These options included soil physical health monitoring, rainfall use efficiency, financial indicators, photo points etc. One group member shared how their enjoyment in what they do and how they do it was the most important indicator for them.
This reflection opened the door to a rich conversation about the importance of the less tangible aspects that drive human behaviour and goals in agricultural ecosystems. Some valuable insights emerged. Those participants who were driven by less tangible measures began to see the role of collecting some more tangible data. Those driven by tangible data realising how the intangibles were equally valid. Enjoying what we do is also important!
Monitoring is a foundational practice in all the aspects of the work I do. I support my clients through collecting and analysing quantifiable monitoring data in the form of farm financial health indicators, soil health indicators, and ecological health indicators. I also monitor progress on the qualitative outcomes clients are working towards such as improving confidence, communication, relationships, and wellbeing.
My view of monitoring continues evolving over time through experiences working with people in agriculture in a range of contexts. I can see that there are both benefits and limitations in measuring it and managing it. Measuring it and managing it still has a valuable role; however this is not the whole picture.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" - William Bruce Cameron
When people are not gathering any data at all, there is no feedback loop, and their business performance is always stunted as a result. There is value in using data to support decision making, to help us be more effective, to see our progress and to pick up unintended consequences.
Whilst data can be useful, relying on data alone can be a recipe for disaster, and can come at the cost of neglecting life’s intangible and immeasurable aspects. Agriculture is a complex, living system, not a mechanical one. The most valuable aspects of any system are often the least visible and as a result harder to measure and monitor.
“Nothing becomes more important just because you can measure it. It becomes more measurable, that’s all.” – W Edwards Deming
Some principles for balancing what can be measured and what cannot be measured include:
Remember to explore the usefulness of data AND the limitations of data in your context.
Don’t abdicate responsibility to monitoring data and fool ourselves into thinking data tells us everything we need to know. There is no substitute for observation, holistic thinking, and connection.
To understand anything fully we need a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures and assessments.
What we can measure is not more valuable than what we can’t measure.
Look for unintended consequences. For example, through relying only on chemical soil tests for soil monitoring, soil health has declined alongside regular soil testing programs.
Combine indicators to build a holistic picture, rather than relying on only one. For example, monitoring soil health holistically and incorporating soil mineral, biological and physical health monitoring practices.
We are what we measure. Changing what we measure can be a powerful way in supporting our efforts to change. We often adjust our behaviour based on what we are being measured against, to help us optimise our scores. For example, measuring the success of a crop on yield brings about different behaviours than measuring our success in terms of overall farm profitability.
“Pay attention to what is important, not just what is quantifiable” – Donella Meadows
When we measure and monitor, choosing what we measure wisely and keeping the big picture in view is vital. Living systems thrive through relationships, agricultural ecosystems are an interconnected web of relationships. Monitoring can be used to enhance our relationships within the system, or it can diminish them, the choice is ours to make. Choose wisely!