Be good-argument-driven, not data-driven

In this provocative piece, Richard Marmorstein challenges the tech industry's obsession with data-driven decision-making, arguing that metrics can often mislead and undermine intrinsic motivation. The article provides a nuanced framework for when data is truly useful, warning engineering leaders against blindly introducing metrics that fail to capture meaningful insights or create perverse incentives in team performance and innovation. Readers will gain practical wisdom about balancing quantitative analysis with qualitative judgment, learning to distinguish between useful metrics and harmful measurement theater.