Sunday, December 30, 2007 Speak out: Still a relevant principle By Jesus Sievert
IF only government officials could practice the principle of the trivial many and the vital few in discharging their functions, this country will incessantly move forward and progress.
This principle is more commonly described as the 80:20 rule.
It stipulates the imbalanced relationship between inputs and outputs, as observed by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who popularized this principle in 1906.
The theory has withstood the test of time and the scrutiny of skeptics.
It has become a popular management tool in a number of other undertakings where the question on whether or not outcome, results and conclusions are derived from a study, discussion or analysis stemming from vital few concerns affecting many, or emanating from the trivial many affecting only the few.
In relation to government practices, it is about consistently staying focused on the 20 percent of the vital few matters that are advantageous to the greater number of people and veering away from futile discussions and protracted debates about the 80 percent trivial matters that make less impact to the populace.
When greed and hidden political agenda are given credit more than the interests and well being of the public, it is the citizenry that suffers.
It translates to waste of time, money and effort on the government’s part.
When the voting public replaces a certain elected official for another, they do so on the premise and strong belief that the replacement, upon his or her assumption to office, will do better in leading the people, in making available the essential needs of every individual and providing the basic services for the community.
Obviously and without doubt, these are but few vital programs of government that affects remarkably the state and welfare of people.
But when elected officials assume office and start discussing and debating the inconsequential matters, disregarding objectivity for subjectivity, begin going after those whom they believe are making hostile pronouncements against their administration, react appallingly for calls of transparency and fail miserably to stay focused on the 20 percent that matters most to the greater number of people, then it becomes a precariously prejudicial situation for communities and the country at large.
It becomes an ominous reign by a dysfunctional administration.
