Re:Charlie's response - How about Others?

Dr. Seashore, First, thank you for hosting this forum!
Second, I believe that the use of the word "evil" in the mission statement is a bit melodramatic/extreme... much in the same way that former President Reagan desrcibing the U.S.S.R. as the "Evil Empire" was a bit much. I have yet to witness a group of cloaked/hooded executives gathered around a candle encircled pentagram while drinking goats' blood and plotting to steal the souls of the "common working man"... and I think that the Al Dunlap's of the world are truly the exception as opposed to the rule. Perhaps there is a more fitting term?

That said, I do believe that the Theory X Managers who
"pose" as Theory Y Managers (and then retract the facade they have labelled as "empowerment" once things get a bit uncomfortable) are destructively manipulative and hurtful to their organizations, the individuals within, and the field of OD. Integrity is (or should be) a non-negotiable.

Finally, in your explanation you describe these destructive individuals as "key managers". My experience suggests that that "managers" might be too narrow a label. Perhaps
"those in leadership roles" is a more accurate description.
I believe that corrupt politicians, self serving labor organization (union) leadership, fanatical religious leadership, and arrogant faculty members (to name just a few other examples) all have similar opportunities
to exploit/manipulate/destroy, etc... through their lack of integrity.

Replies:

Re:Charlie's response - How about Others?, by rob quiroz, 07/30/02 Re:Charlie's response - How about Others?, by R. Malllory Starr, Ph.D. Management Consultant, 08/31/02

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.