Abilene Paradox Critique
Critique of The Abilene Paradox: The Management of Agreement
Biography Written by Jerry B. Harvey, The Abilene Paradox: The Management of Agreement discusses how organizations and leadership teams plan projects, events, and/or research studies and these projects can gather momentum and take on a life of their own, despite the face that no body wants to take part in them or claim responsibility for them when they fail (Understanding the Abilene, 1991). While it is difficult to find information regarding the author’s childhood, according to Wikipedia, the author, a native of Texas, is currently Professor Emeritus of Management at The George Washington University (2010). Jerry B. Harvey has served as a consultant to a wide variety of industries including industrial, government, religious, educational, and voluntary organizations, is the author of approximately fifty professional articles and two books: The Abilene Paradox and Other Mediations on Management and How Come Every Time I Get Stabbed in the Back, My Fingerprints Are on the Knife?, and is also featured in several videos focusing on organizational behavior (Wikipedia, 2010). Harvey is known for his for atypical management books. “He intentionally strays from mainstream bottom-line and worker satisfaction obsessions, drawing instead on children’s fables, mythological characters, and Biblical parables to deliver his management messages” (Sonnesyn, 1989, p. 76). According to the Susan Sonnesyn, author of Fly- Flicking Phrogs in the Organizational Pond, readers of Harvey’s work should be prepared to chuckle as Harvey “blends conventional OD wisdom, a knack for exposing organizational oxymorons, and a quirky tongue in check humor” (1989).
Critique
The Abilene Paradox begins with a personal narrative story. One hot summer afternoon in Coleman, Texas, the author, was visiting his in-laws with his wife. Although they were comfortable at home, sipping lemonade, playing dominos,
Biography Written by Jerry B. Harvey, The Abilene Paradox: The Management of Agreement discusses how organizations and leadership teams plan projects, events, and/or research studies and these projects can gather momentum and take on a life of their own, despite the face that no body wants to take part in them or claim responsibility for them when they fail (Understanding the Abilene, 1991). While it is difficult to find information regarding the author’s childhood, according to Wikipedia, the author, a native of Texas, is currently Professor Emeritus of Management at The George Washington University (2010). Jerry B. Harvey has served as a consultant to a wide variety of industries including industrial, government, religious, educational, and voluntary organizations, is the author of approximately fifty professional articles and two books: The Abilene Paradox and Other Mediations on Management and How Come Every Time I Get Stabbed in the Back, My Fingerprints Are on the Knife?, and is also featured in several videos focusing on organizational behavior (Wikipedia, 2010). Harvey is known for his for atypical management books. “He intentionally strays from mainstream bottom-line and worker satisfaction obsessions, drawing instead on children’s fables, mythological characters, and Biblical parables to deliver his management messages” (Sonnesyn, 1989, p. 76). According to the Susan Sonnesyn, author of Fly- Flicking Phrogs in the Organizational Pond, readers of Harvey’s work should be prepared to chuckle as Harvey “blends conventional OD wisdom, a knack for exposing organizational oxymorons, and a quirky tongue in check humor” (1989).
Critique
The Abilene Paradox begins with a personal narrative story. One hot summer afternoon in Coleman, Texas, the author, was visiting his in-laws with his wife. Although they were comfortable at home, sipping lemonade, playing dominos,
References: Choi, J., & Kim, M. (1999). The organizational application of groupthink and its limitations in organizations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(2), 297-306. Retrieved September 18, 2010 from PsycARTICLES: doi:10.1037/0021-9010.84.2.297. Lister, G. (2006). Has your board ever been to Abilene?. American School Board Journal, 193(10), 56-57 Wikipedia (2010, September, 26). Jerry B. Harvey. Retrieved September, 26, 2010 from Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_B._Harvey