Archive for February, 2010
Great Quotations, 2/22/2010
Monday, February 22nd, 2010“My observation is that whenever one person is found adequate to the discharge of a duty by close application thereto, it is worse executed by two persons, and scarcely done at all if three or more are employed therein.” – George Washington
And thanks to David Mott for bringing this quote to our attention.
Specialists, generally speaking
Monday, February 22nd, 2010Generalists, according to the old joke, know nothing about everything, as opposed to specialists, who know everything about nothing.
Their managers know nothing about anything, which is why they hire consultants like me — people who know everything about everything.
Or at least know how to create that impression.
ManagementSpeak, 2/15/2010
Monday, February 15th, 2010ManagementSpeak: The company wants the analyst’s report this way.
Translation: The CEO wants the report to support the decision he’s already made.
This week’s anonymous contributor wanted the translation this way.
Chasing the what?
Monday, February 15th, 2010To operate a computer, you point, click, double-click, or right-click. To operate a car you push on the gas, stomp on the brake, or crank the steering wheel.
Which is why you have to feel sorry for Steven Spear.
Spear, you’ll recall, authored Chasing the Rabbit (2008) — an in-depth analysis of what makes high-performance organizations tick. [...]
ManagementSpeak, 2/8/2010
Monday, February 8th, 2010ManagementSpeak: It looks like you’ve thought of everything.
Translation: I have no ownership in this idea, and no reason to care about it. Good thing you won’t need my help.
This week’s anonymous contributor might not have thought of everything, but he did think of an excellent translation.
Red rover, red rover, let NASA come over!
Monday, February 8th, 2010BIG/GAS stands for “Business Is Great/Government and Academics are Stupid.”
It’s a popular proposition among the shouting classes, but NASA — specifically Spirit and Opportunity — have, over the past six years, driven a few more nails in its coffin. While unpopular in some circles the two Mars rovers have, as of this writing, exceeded their [...]
ManagementSpeak, 2/1/2010
Monday, February 1st, 2010ManagementSpeak: Good corporate citizen.
Translation: Chump.
This week’s anonymous contributor is a good KJR citizen.
Third axle alternative
Monday, February 1st, 2010Ever wonder where ISO 9000 got its name?
Not long ago I was approved as a vendor for a company whose name you’d instantly recognize were I dopey enough to make snide comments about a new client. My new client outsourced its vendor approval process to a company proud of its ISO 9000 certification.
The process began [...]
Bob Lewis is president of 