Hardworking Idiots are Dangerous

I recently read Creating Hardworking Idiots.

At first blush you might be inclined to accuse the author of oversimplifying what happens in a business organization, but note that he does not blame the people themselves- just the system. We are products of our environment, after all.

The dumbing down of organizations isn’t caused by poor educational standards or faulty recruitment. It’s due mostly to the crazy pace that is set, and the obsessive focus on the most obvious, rigidly short-term objectives. The result is a sharp increase in hardworking idiots: people who are coerced into long hours and constant busyness, while being systematically forced to act like idiots by the culture around them. Don’t ask questions. Don’t cause problems by thinking, or waste time on coming up with new ideas. Don’t think about the future, or try to anticipate problems before they arise. Just keep at it, do exactly what is expected of you, and always get the most done in the least amount of time and at the lowest cost. If von Manstein is correct, the result will be that more and more employees will be used to perform essentially pointless tasks. Isn’t that exactly what we see?

Past experience leads me to believe bad management cannot identify the Lazy and Stupid from the Lazy and Clever; nor can they discern the Hardworking Clever from the Hardworking Idiots. To keep from appearing incompetent, most bad managers bet on the Hardworking; whether they are Clever or Idiots, it doesn’t matter. All laziness is then banished, by firing or pressuring the Lazy types to work more.

Here, the Lazy and Stupid are fired; the Lazy and Clever get hired by companies that recognize their talents before they get fired. It certainly explains why there is so much resistance to change in this office. A high value has always been placed on working hard; working smarter naturally becomes a threat to the Hardworking Idiots’ job security.

In general, bad management types are banking on outside observers noticing only the work getting done. Only the sharpest on the sidelines will be able to differentiate between the two, amidst the flurry of widgets cranking out of the factory.

What happens when bad management discovers the value of the Lazy and Clever? Or does it ever happen, since it falls outside of their comfort zone? Perhaps this explains why CEOs are hired and fired so often. It takes time to discover what kind of performance and influence a CEO might have. The successful companies find their fill of the Hardworking Clever and the Lazy and Clever.

While Mr. Savage makes no such insinuation, I also find it hard to believe that von Manstein’s generals never had to work hard. There are times when everyone has to get their hands dirty, if for no other reason than to familiarize oneself with a process and decide who to delegate the task to next time. How else could his generals identify what was in need of improvement? Something to consider before signing on to the idea that one can start out or always remain Lazy and Clever.

My Two Cents on the A List Apart 2007 Web Design Survey

I admit I read all 82 pages in a single sitting. I generally have no taste for statistics or graphs, but today was different. The 2007 Web Design Survey by A List Apart has been released. It was sparked from the debate that women are not being fairly represented at web conferences, and so a study ensued. Sam’s World of No eloquently summarizes this best:

What I like about Zeldman is his can-do attitude. Earlier this year, a set of rants and comments about the demographic of people engaged in web design, and particularly the male/female debate, was marked by its lack of informed data. So Zeldman and various other happy cog people, through their A List Apart/An Event Apart vehicles, commissioned a full survey to try and plug the gap. It was published on the 24th of April this year, and open to responses for almost a month. There were 32,831 respondents, and the full report is available online, along with the data breakdowns.

Do read Sam’s Ten Comments on the A List Apart 2007 Web Design Survey. I agree in general with his observations and find myself laughing at the especially sharp comments (highlights below) in #2:

There is blogging well and there is blogging badly. … It’s a bit like getting data that says that racing drivers have cars.

and #7:

Nobody wants to be a webmaster. … Let’s get rid of this title once for all and give the sometimes extremely talented people that hold something decent to put on their business cards.

yet I strongly disagree with #3:

There is no widespread practical education for web development.

Perhaps this is a regional issue? Maybe there is a lack of attention by education institutions to fill the need in England? In the U. S. many universities, colleges and technical schools are creating degrees and certifications concentrating on web design and web development.

Last, but not least, #6:

The proportion of women is just low. Sometimes there really are statistical realities, and the women argument appears to be one.

Hear hear! I have been following the conversations about women in web-related fields closely, for obvious reasons. Despite the finger pointing and accusations that have flown around this topic, it is a simple fact that there are only a handful of females in any given company, holding web-related positions.

My non-scientific, blatantly biased answer to the question Why? is simple as well: most women are flat-out not interested in web work.

The few women who gravitated towards math, science, computers and shop class in their youth have already joined the ranks. We are just spread out thinly among all the traditionally male-dominated fields as Architects, Chemists, Computer Programmers, Engineers, Developers, Designers and Chefs among others. The few women who enjoy pulling things apart and asking how does it work? are already here, working with the web. Opportunities abound and women are free to join in wherever they please.

I am less concerned with glass ceilings and sexism in the workplace than I am with child rearing. As fathers and mothers, be more concerned about encouraging and teaching both your sons and daughters how to sew, rebuild an engine, cook, repair a flat tire and balance a checkbook. It opens up the world of possibilities to them. It seemed natural to know how to change the oil in my car, just as it seemed natural for my brothers to know how to sew a button on a shirt. Once the vocal detractors come around (ewww, dissecting frogs is for boys!) kids are already set in how they see their role. No one will be able to tell them they can’t do something because of their gender, especially when they already know they can.