Balancing the statistical tightrope

Principal Consultant & Managing Director of GreyRigge Associates Ltd.

During one development meeting early in my industrial career, a process development group member asked me whether the value my group had reported in one result was okay to use. I con dently replied “Yes, it’s ne. It’s about 40, somewhere between 38 and 42. The other person raised his eyebrows. “About 40?” In response, I somewhat awkwardly mumbled “Yes, probably . . . about that” – an answer not met with full understanding, but rather concern.