[from Jeff Vancouver 960731.16:30 EST]
So I am reading (rereading actually) an old article (1983) on feedback
(read knowledge of results) that is one of the definitive articles on
the subject in organization behavior (more or less my field). I get to
the part where Powers 1973 plays a big role. To my surprise I read the
following quote:
"all behavior is oriented all of the time around the control of certain
'quantities' (i.e., behavior) with respect to specific reference
conditions" Powers, 1973, p. 47).
I can't believe this - i.e., behaviors - so I look it up. Sure enough,
the parenthetic phrase was not in the original (nor are the single quotes
around the word quantities). It is no wonder that many in our field do
not understand control theory or think it is the control of behavior.
I just thought you all would appreciate this little tidbit.
Later
Jeff
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_________________________________________________________________________
Jeffrey B. Vancouver
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