When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Hunter S. Thompson

Showing posts with label management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label management. Show all posts

11 June 2008

Management theory, OSS style

The Office of Strategic Services, WW II-era precursor agency to the CIA, had these helpful management tips to offer back in the day:
(1) Insist on doing everything through “channels.” Never permit short-cuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions.

(2) Make “speeches.” Talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your “points” by long anecdotes and accounts of per­sonal experiences. Never hesitate to make a few appropriate “patriotic” comments.

(3) When possible, refer all matters to committees, for “further study and considera­tion.” Attempt to make the committees as large as possible — never less than five.

(4) Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.

(5) Haggle over precise wordings of com­munications, minutes, resolutions.

(6) Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision.

(7) Advocate “caution.” Be “reasonable” and urge your fellow-conferees to be “reason­able” and avoid haste which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.

(8) Be worried about the propriety of any decision — raise the question of whether such action as is contemplated lies within the juris­diction of the group or whether it might conflict with the policy of some higher echelon.
Of course, they were describing how to sabotage an organization from within. (Follow the link to download the PDF of the original document.)

Hat tip: Joho the Blog, via BoingBoing

09 June 2008

Herding cats

I don't know who said it first, but it's a truism: managing IT projects is like herding cats.

EDS
turned the concept into a very funny television ad:

02 October 2007

Learn it well

If you're going to be a high achiever, you're going to be in lots of situations where you're going to be quickly making decisions in the presence of incomplete or incorrect information, under intense time pressure, and often under intense political pressure. You're going to screw up -- frequently -- and the screwups will have serious consequences, and you'll feel incredibly stupid every time. It can't faze you -- you have to be able to just get right back up and keep on going.

That may be the most valuable skill you can ever learn. Make sure you start learning it early.
The Pmarca Guide to Career Planning, part 2: Skills and education (Marc Andreesen)