"Attract and Retain"

One symptom of becoming an adult is the recognition that the world is full of limits and trade-offs. To have more of one thing, it is often necessary to have less of something else.

One course I teach includes something call linear programming. It is part of a larger group of models described as "constrained optimization." These are based on the recognition that most real-world problems have a set of constraints or restrictions, such as budgets or limited resources. The aim, then is to find the best solution (optimize) that fits those constraints. The organization whose leaders recognize the constraints and optimize most effectively within them will prosper while others will fall behind.

Unfortunately, while recognizing constraints is the mark of a good leader, pretending they don't exist can be good politics. Of course we can cut taxes and increase spending. We shouldn't worry about global warming, running out of oil, or environmental pollution because some new technology will come along and solve the problem. The politician who also wants to be a responsible leader is at a disadvantage.

The "Attract and Retain" signs that sprouted around Milwaukee a while back fit into the politics of unconstrained optimization. They tell the school board and administration it should be generous to the teachers, a sentiment that only a grouch could disagree with. Yet those displaying the signs don't suggest where the money for this generosity should come from. That a majority of the school board subscribes to this sentiment goes a long way to explain why MPS's financial problems continue to grow. Unfortunately, good leadership requires the ability to make hard decisions.