Working Daze by John Zakour and Scott Roberts for October 23, 2023

With that way of thinking, she should be working for the government.

Why are they visiting my company?

Just like Wackenhut use to do.

I’m available! You can hire me to administrate them.

What does a fact-finding committee tell the administration when there are no new facts to find.

A company I worked decades for used to have an executive title of “director”. DIrectors were very powerful individuals, near the tippy-top of the corporate org charts. They led organizations with hundreds, even thousands of workers. Directors ruled. When a director said “jump”, etc.

But outside that company, nobody had any idea that a director was an important individual. I suspect the directors found this galling when they met executives from other corporations and didn’t get the recognition they felt they deserved.

So in a massive reorganization the directors were suddenly re-designated “vice presidents”. But it didn’t stop there. Somehow the company went from having maybe twenty directors to over 300 vice presidents, including executive, senior, and junior V.P.s. At one point in the org chart there was a V.P. reporting to a V.P. reporting to a V.P., all with the same “vice president” title. (This was about the time all the “secretaries” became “administrative assistants” which the company began laying off in droves since even V.P.s were then expected to type their own memos.)

To my amazement, that company still exists while most of its competitors don’t, but a company that once had hundreds of thousands of employees, last I heard was down to about 16,000. I have no idea how many of them are vice-presidents — except my old boss Srini C. How ya doin’ Srini? (Nice guy.)

clearly

Hmm, this issue used to be described as, “Too many chiefs, not enough indians.”

Good thinking, Rita!

Rookie! You need to convene a “Competitive Enhancement Team” to perform “Bench-marking Studies” of “World Class Organizations” and report back on “Actionable Items.” Did I miss any jargon?

Administratee sharing?

No. Get consultants. They’ll solve all your problems.