Professor says some jobs should be left to computers

We've already seen robots beginning to take the jobs of lawyers and nurses, now Professor Chris Snijders of the Eindhoven University of Technology thinks that computers should take over some managerial jobs as well. According to Snijdres, the computer models he's developed are far more effective than human managers at a variety of tasks, like purchasing decisions, and can be applied to just about decision-making job, providing you have to some quantifiable data and history of past experiences to work with. He's even gone as far as to challenge any company willing to put its human managers up against his models, although no one's taken him up on that yet. Then again, human paper pushers vs. computer number crunchers isn't exactly the sort of man/machine battle we were all hoping for.

[Via Techdirt]

[jennylanny @ Jan 18th 2009 8:55AM]

this is great!

[blueadept1 @ Jul 20th 2006 5:24PM]

As a BBA student, I say. DESTROY THIS MAN!

[Rohit Kapur @ Jul 20th 2006 5:28PM]

Lotta typos guys. Proofread before posting.

Also, check out this article on Wired. Worth reporting.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,71426-0.html?tw=rss.index

[Jerk Jerkins McJerk @ Jul 20th 2006 5:32PM]

What an awesome idea, what Oh SNAPS

[Bard @ Jul 20th 2006 5:32PM]

This is idiocy in middle management form! Then again, it's also a perfect manner in wich major corporations can take the responsability out of their management decisions. All else fails simply say "But the computer said it was right, and how can that be incompetent? We've got MARKET RESEARCH to back it up"

This system, no matter how perfect it is, will not work. One, the employees must be able to respect a management decision wether it's on a purchase order, an employment reference or any other form of employee resource. Two, there's the functionality of having a physical person there to make the decisions. For example, I work in a resturant, and without a manager with a tacky tie and a pack of rolaids in his pocket, customers just won't take the establishment seriously.

Can a computer tell me WHY my 3rd line cook can't get a damned T bone cooked right? Will it tell me, and then HELP me 86 a drunk customer? No. THIS is why it's a dumb idea.

My .02

[Jerk Jerkins McJerk @ Jul 20th 2006 5:34PM]

my link was deleted?

http://marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm

[James @ Jul 20th 2006 5:44PM]

Geesh. Write much?

[Manchucka @ Jul 20th 2006 6:04PM]

like spellchecking

[js @ Jul 20th 2006 6:04PM]

I, for one, welcome our robotic manager overlords.

[Todd @ Jul 20th 2006 6:12PM]

Can Snijders' computer model teach a University class? Better yet, can it teach a class without demanding tenoir and a assigned parking place?

[James @ Jul 20th 2006 6:42PM]

McJerk, exact same thing came to my mind as soon as I saw this. For those of who haven't read it, I highly recommend when you have some free time. Gives you something to think about.

[flamer's grill @ Jul 20th 2006 6:48PM]

Anyone actually seen The Forbin Project? If you are a fan of the near-future/apocalyptic/post-apocalytpic/speculative-fiction flavors of sci-fi (like myself), this is a must see. A little dated, a bit cheesy, but the ending makes it all worthwhile.

[Cold_War_Relic @ Jul 20th 2006 7:18PM]

No question about it. Colossus: The Forbin Project was not only a great movie but an oustanding book as well. Well worth seeing and reading.

[bogphanny @ Jul 20th 2006 8:00PM]

I, for one, welcome proof reading before posting again on Engadget.

[thequinox @ Jul 20th 2006 8:55PM]

I don't know why you guys freak out so much about spelling. I mean sure, it would be nice if there were never any mistakes, but every once an a while it will happen.

Seriously though, were you guys confused? Did you get to "shold" and just stop reading? So perplexed as to what "shold" could mean, that you couldn't finish the article?

Most of us see the typo, figure out what it's supposed to say, and continue. It's not like you are paying for this news service, it's free. So read, learn, and quit your bitching.

[michael @ Jul 20th 2006 8:56PM]

Just wondering when the reference to the "robotic overlords" joke is going to be overused for everyone else? not funny for me any more...

also, who gives a s$%t about spelling and grammar in a small post like this - jeeze get a life.

[Sam @ Jul 20th 2006 9:47PM]

Should have left typing this article to a computer, eh?

[MJB @ Jul 20th 2006 9:55PM]

When I read the typing mistakes, I just figured it was their way of saying, "Maybe they are right, a computer wouldn't misspell things like this." But, maybe I am wrong. It really doesn't matter. If you don't like the way the give you the news, don't come to the site.

[James @ Jul 20th 2006 11:40PM]

Engadget employs its contributors.

If I employed someone to write for my site, I'd prefer they not end every other run-on sentence with a preposition. In other words, I would expect them to adhere to grammatical rules they learned in 2nd and 3rd grade.

Perhaps it's just me. If Engadget is satisfied with perpetuating substandard writing, who am I to judge?
Regardless, I will forever be astounded by the number of gamers who spell lose, l-o-o-s-e. That drives me nuts!

[dave @ Jul 21st 2006 1:31AM]

It is not just you, James. It is ironic that this paragraph about computers taking over human tasks was thought to be perfect because of a spell-checker!

[Jimn @ Jul 21st 2006 1:35AM]

Umm.. gee guys maybe the typos were... dare I say... sarcasm? NAW engaget wuld nevr be that snyd... hahahah you misst the hole pointe.. its funy! I said PHUNY!!!!!!! hahaha... maybe its ovur you're heds.. um...

[Stuhe @ Jul 21st 2006 3:01AM]

Bard, you said:
This is idiocy in middle management form! Then again, it's also a perfect manner in wich major corporations can take the responsability out of their management decisions. All else fails simply say "But the computer said it was right, and how can that be incompetent? We've got MARKET RESEARCH to back it up"

This system, no matter how perfect it is, will not work. One, the employees must be able to respect a management decision wether it's on a purchase order, an employment reference or any other form of employee resource. Two, there's the functionality of having a physical person there to make the decisions. For example, I work in a resturant, and without a manager with a tacky tie and a pack of rolaids in his pocket, customers just won't take the establishment seriously.

Can a computer tell me WHY my 3rd line cook can't get a damned T bone cooked right? Will it tell me, and then HELP me 86 a drunk customer? No. THIS is why it's a dumb idea.




This isn't really what the guy is saying. He's saying that a computational model is better at making calculated decisions than humans, and in a business sitution would perform better with -decisions-, not actions. You would still need someone to execute these , but presumably you could make more money by using a computer program.

[flamer's grill @ Jul 21st 2006 3:11AM]

The link above, the MANNA story, is absolutely terrifying and yet so completely believable. I am moving to australia tomorrow.

[Abdool Samad @ Jul 21st 2006 3:44AM]

I am not sure what Professor Chris means, If ever his project is put into practice then what will happen to all those students who are doing BBA/ MBA. I am sure he never gave a thought to this. Unemployment will prevail among our elite. Who is going to bear the responsibilities?

[TheWakeUpCall @ Jul 21st 2006 4:15AM]

It should be illegal to allow computers to do jobs that can change the direction of the company. Otherwise we would have computers ruling our businesses.

[junger @ Jul 21st 2006 10:10AM]

I actually have seen the Forbin Project ... cheesy, but very classic movie.

[spoon @ Jul 21st 2006 11:30AM]

Maybe this time outsourcing will work! Instead of relying on people across the globe we can just outsource all the management to the server room. Perfect.

[Michael Shada @ Jul 21st 2006 11:58AM]

Loved "Colossis The Forbin Project" It's as dated as me. lol-> 52

I for one would rather follow the instructions of a logical thinking machine than a moron for a manager!

[Kevin Gabbert @ Jul 21st 2006 1:01PM]

Replace managers as they currently exist? No way. However, if the office environment itself were transformed to where processes and tasks were managed by an automated process management system (which would itself be asministrated by humans) you could greatly reduce the need for managers in certain businesses like software developement.

I know this becuase I once wrote a process management system that did it, and it worked because everyone invloved in the processes had buy-in, and the system was constantly being adjusted and updated to reflect changes in the real world. The system only addressed processes that lent themselves to automation, but that was about 80% of our processes.