The Abilene Paradox is a paradox in which a group of people collectively decide on a course of action that is counter to the preferences of any of the individuals in the group. The Abilene paradox was introduced by management expert Jerry B. Harvey in his article The Abilene Paradox: The Management of Agreement. The name of the phenomenon comes from an anecdote in the article which Harvey uses to elucidate the paradox.
Ed Callahan
Recent Posts
Topics: Implementers, EOS
One of the transformations that happens to companies when they implement EOS is that they create a leadership team that trusts each other. Often, before EOS, company leaders spend lots of time in unnecessary meetings updating each other on commitments they have made to each other or on the progress of the functional group they lead for the company.
Topics: Implementers, EOS
The more I work in my business, the less it’s worth
Written by Ed Callahan on February 7, 2013
Topics: Implementers, EOS
An article in Fast Company magazine, Why You Should Work From A Coffee Shop Even When You Have An Office, prompted this post. You can read it here. Entrepreneurs and leaders of companies of all sizes oftentimes get lost in working in their business. The todo list they came into the office with this morning grew, not shrunk, by the time they left the office. The urgent drives out the important. What to do about it?
Topics: Implementers, EOS
At a recent annual meeting with one of my EOS clients, the leadership team, as part of the process, challenged their entire strategic plan. In EOS terminology, they examined the answers to the eight questions in their Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO). You can download a copy here.
Topics: Implementers, EOS