Tune the feedback

The same principle can be applied in the running of a society. That means it has wide applications in daily life at all levels. It works even in cases when the observer or operator is not aware of the principle (like threading a needle, picking up an object, or reacting to environmental conditions).

The professionals in society have to point out the aberrations for awareness of the uninitiated and non-technical citizens. For example, there is something seriously wrong in our political culture, because the messages from the various feedback sources are being ignored, and corrective steps not taken, either intentionally or in ignorance. In certain cases, the public-interest goal and party goal may differ. Ambition or economic gain might stand in the way of genuine public service.

Forward planning exercises need sensitive awareness of small future details. Hence monitoring through feedback is essential to reduce the systems losses in the long run. In business, corporate success depends on feedback systems installed for monitoring consumer trends and competition (QC is included).

The overall responsibility is on the top leadership, to detect the nuances of the messages coming in. The recent Indian elections provide a good study of the surprise downfall of the existing regime, and capture of power by an unexpected group (Sonia Gandhi's Congress). Fumbling with the basics!

Looking at the local scene in Dhaka, criticising the opponents all the time for the ills of the society has a limited field, and acceptance. The social problems are deeper and wider than seen through partisan political vision. The ambitious suffer from the weakness of ad hocism (go ahead, we'll see when the problems appear).

A correctly set up feedback system is 'neutral' in behavior, depending on the parameters chosen by the designers (who are controlled by clients, some of whom might be powerful in the wrong way). In public services, a powerful minority control the masses (the bureaucrats or the elected politicians); hence there is the need for feedback from different sources, internal and external (including parliamentary debates). The external messages tend to be independent, hence the noise factor rises in debates and protests.

An unsettled person, party or group, cannot pay proper attention to the problems in hand. Hence the nuisance value rises. Public service entails offering services to others, compared to internal arrangements. When this service is poor, the whole environment is adversely affected, as we witness today.

The leaders of the society have to forget their colours and flags for a while, and take interest in non-political issues. Many moral issues lie outside political solutions, hence it is not correct to believe in service from a political core only. The wily politicians seek exclusive credit all the time, drying up inspiration and dedication in others. Where is the cementing ingredient?