ABSTRACT
In this book, we have talked about many different kinds of errors that managers can make when they seek to draw inferences from numerical data. The emphasis has been on how the situation determines the errors made. This focus is in keeping with the aim of the book to contribute to organizational theory as an explanatory or positive inquiry, rather than to offer prescriptive guidance. However, managers can reduce such errors by taking certain steps. Many of these steps are currently well laid out in books on business statistics that aim to offer prescriptive advice to managers (e.g., Moore et al. 2009). The present book does not seek to duplicate such efforts. However, the errors discussed in this book can be serious, adversely affecting organizational performance. Some of them require remedies that are not always dealt with in the conventional business statistics books. Therefore, we will briefly revisit many of the major errors that have been discussed herein and indicate steps managers can take to avoid or reduce them. We will discuss them in the order the error sources were discussed in the book.
