This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Rebel Ideas" by Matthew Syed. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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What are the disadvantages of standardization? What are some examples of the negative effects of standardization?
According to Matthew Syed, the disadvantages of standardization are best understood in the context of homogeneity versus diversity. In Rebel Ideas, he argues that standardization forces us to conform to an average while diversity fosters collective intelligence.
Read on to learn about the disadvantages of standardization, according to two examples from Syed.
Disadvantages of Standardization
In the book Rebel Ideas, Matthew Syed discusses the dangers of homogeneity in the context of standardization—the practice of designing systems to fit “average” individuals rather than tailoring systems to individual differences. Syed argues that standardization forces us to conform to uniform molds, creating systems that are less effective. Although Syed considers various disadvantages of standardization, in this article, we’ll examine two examples: airplane cockpits and dieting.
(Shortform note: Standardization is also prevalent in the U.S. education system, with the Common Core State Standards outlining specific learning goals for students at each grade level. Although 46 states initially adopted Common Core in 2011, it came under criticism from experts who argued that it set unreasonable expectations for students in lower socioeconomic areas, who face unique challenges. So, Syed’s general criticism of standardization resonates with respect to Common Core: It doesn’t acknowledge the diverse needs of students.)
#1: Standardization in Airplane Cockpits
To explain the disadvantages of standardization, Syed offers an example of airplane cockpits. He explains that around 1950, the U.S. Air Force experienced an unusually high rate of safety incidents. At the time, cockpits were standardized according to the dimensions of the average pilot, which determined chair height, separation between pedals, and so on.
Lieutenant Gilbert Daniels, however, realized that few pilots conformed to this “average” cockpit, because they aren’t average across every dimension. To demonstrate, Daniels measured pilots across 10 dimensions to see how many are within the average range for all dimensions. Out of more than 4,000 pilots, zero fell within the average for all 10 dimensions. So, cockpits didn’t fit any individual pilot perfectly.
After engineers redesigned the cockpit so pilots could make individual adjustments, the incident rate dropped significantly. In turn, Syed concludes that adjusting for diversity among pilots optimized the cockpit design.
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Like what you just read? Read the rest of the world's best book summary and analysis of Matthew Syed's "Rebel Ideas" at Shortform.
Here's what you'll find in our full Rebel Ideas summary:
- Why diverse groups are more collectively intelligent than homogeneous ones
- Actionable advice for creating cognitively diverse groups
- Why systems shouldn't be designed to fit the "average" person
