Venkat Rao's take on the businss world through the lens of "The Office"
Venkat's writings have made a huge splash in the blogosphere the last couple of weeks, as he has accurately described that, which for many, is an unfathomable madness: The inner-dynamics of Corporations as it is experienced by those within it. Vekat is causing an epidemic of "lightbulb moments" in cubicles all over the world.
I'd like to share this one tidbit, which for me was the biggest lightbulb moment, and makes sense of an (otherwise) nonsensical, yet continual process I have seen everyday since I worked in an office.
"[Sociopathic executives sidestep the possibility of reform] by creating a meta-culture of Darwinism in the economy: one based on job-hopping, mergers, acquisitions, layoffs, cataclysmic reorganizations, outsourcing, unforgiving start-up ecosystems, and brutal corporate raiding. In this terrifying meta-world of the Titans, the Organization Man became the Clueless Man. Today, any time an organization grows too brittle, bureaucratic and disconnected from reality, it is simply killed, torn apart and cannibalized, rather than reformed."
Here are his articles:
"The Gervais Principle, Or The Office According to “The Office”"
http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07...to-the-office/
- An exploration of corporate power dynamics using examples from the show "The office". It is brilliant. More than brilliant. It's very highbrow, and demands some familiarity with management theory, but if you stick it out, it starts to make sense, and is incredible rewarding.
Part two:
"The Gervais Principle II: Posturetalk, Powertalk, Babytalk and Gametalk"
http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/11/11...-and-gametalk/
- Talks about the modes of communication different power-tiers use to communicate with each other in "The office", as well as in the office.
Quote
