Notes:
Source: "A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths," by Annette Simmons. (pp. 18 &19)
While it is good that wrong-headed thoughts are easier to change before they are documented, the fact is that many thoughts will not change unless they are made explicit and exposed to reality.
Individuals and organizations may proceed in blissful ignorance, acting on wrong-headed thoughts. In many cases the results may be benign, because precise behavior is not required. However, in other cases, the results may be poor or even tragic. Contemporary examples: The thoughts that Firestone ATX tires are really cool and Ford SUVs are really safe.
Of course, too, since thoughts only exist in people's heads, it is risky to rely upon them. There may have been a time when a "man's word was his bond." However, there never was a time when his mere "thoughts" were. Even if we thought we knew what his thoughts were, there was no way to be certain without at least asking him to voice them, if not necessarily to document them. And if we did ask him to voice them, how could we be certain that we heard, interpreted, and remembered his words correctly?
Contrast the attributes of thoughts with the characteristics of a record, as set forth in ISO Draft International Standard 15489: Authenticity, Reliability, Integrity, and Useability
