Functional Stupidity

[easy_tiger]

Interesting research on organisational dysfunction on ABC yesterday

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bestpractice/stupid/7659452

"Functional stupidity is a paradox. It means that a stupid idea, or practice, can work well for the individual, or even an entire organisation, in the short-term.

Long-term this can be disastrous. So what can we do about smart people doing stupid things? There are solutions."

he gives the example how The Australian Opera spent millions rebranding as Opera Australia, to no effect, and how a lot of intelligent people nodded in meetings and went 'great idea'

functional stupidity is happening when we are in a meeting, and dont say what we are really thinking, even when everyone, but perhaps the boss, is thinking the same thing.

I think The Richmond Football club could possibly be one of the most Functionally Stupid organisations in the land.

Or have we tipped into dysfunctional stupidity?

discuss.

 

[tigersnake]

I've looked into this before, one of my favourite examples is the Ford Edsel. Henry was getting old and it was his pet project, Edsel was one of his sons. It was a decent car but ugly. Now collectable as being sexy-ugly. Anyway the experts all the way along the product development and production chain saw it for what it was, nobody said anything, they all thought the were on their own. They tested it on focus groups who said the grill looked like a toilet, (and it did) they ignored it. They kept ignoring it until they tooled up the factories, went into production and filled the showrooms. Nobody bought it, Ford lost hundreds of millions in 1950s money, it all-but brought the company to its knees.

 

[easy_tiger]

I've looked into this before, one of my favourite examples is the Ford Edsel. Henry was getting old and it was his pet project, Edsel was one of his sons. It was a decent car but ugly. Now collectable as being sexy-ugly. Anyway the experts all the way along the product development and production chain saw it for what it was, nobody said anything, they all thought the were on their own. They tested it on focus groups who said the grill looked like a toilet, (and it did) they ignored it. They kept ignoring it until they tooled up the factories, went into production and filled the showrooms. Nobody bought it, Ford lost hundreds of millions in 1950s money, it all-but bought the company to its knees.

that precisely Functional Stupidity. So in the short term, they all kept their jobs and got paid and went around to Henry's for tea. But in the long term, they all lost out.

I guess it boils down to fear-based dishonesty. The dude gives a couple of examples of great organisations/leaders/managers who have truth sessions, whereby the janitor could walk in and go to Henry 'Henry, its the ugliest car ive ever seen and everyone i know reckon it is too'

shouldnt be that hard to create an environment where the most powerless, can give the most powerful, honest, constructive feedback?

Chimp saying Dimma is 'fantastic' eludes to functional stupidity. I know he cant say 'hes lost us. The gameplan is intolerable and half a dozen blokes are incapable of pulling their weight' in public, but I wonder if it allowable behind The Four Walls?

 

[jb03]

I've looked into this before, one of my favourite examples is the Ford Edsel. Henry was getting old and it was his pet project, Edsel was one of his sons. It was a decent car but ugly. Now collectable as being sexy-ugly. Anyway the experts all the way along the product development and production chain saw it for what it was, nobody said anything, they all thought the were on their own. They tested it on focus groups who said the grill looked like a toilet, (and it did) they ignored it. They kept ignoring it until they tooled up the factories, went into production and filled the showrooms. Nobody bought it, Ford lost hundreds of millions in 1950s money, it all-but brought the company to its knees.

That sounds like Homer Simpson's car and what he did to his brother Herb.

 

[AngryAnt]

That sounds like Homer Simpson's car and what he did to his brother Herb.

Yep, Henry Ford must have copied them.