What about Dilbert? LO10530

Benjamin Compton (bcompton@geocities.com)
Wed, 16 Oct 1996 18:29:59 -0700

I've been a fan of Dilbert. I read his comic strip. I bought "The Dilbert
Principle." I allow employees to post Dilbert cartoons in my office. I
laugh when I read Dilbert. Dilbert clearly reveals the absurdity and
foolishness that are often found within organizations.

BUT. . .

He doesn't present solutions to the problem he identifies. He leaves his
readers with a sense of nagging dispair. The basic message of the cartoon
is: Managers are inept, deal with it.

And so those of us who are trying to build Learning Organizations, and who
are trying to be intelligent and deliberate about what we do are
undermined by a pervasive, pestiferous, and ficticious cartoon character.

As I push forward with my work, the one obstacle I constantly bump into is
Dilbert -- and his mockery of management. While employees recognize my
sincerity, and note my openness, they still think, somewhere down inside,
I have a "stupid" half that is waiting (and wanting) to show itself.

Am I missing the boat on this one? Do others face this same problem? Is
Scott Adams really bringing about constructive change, or is he simply
making a whole lot of money by mocking managers without accepting (or
recognizing) that he is also causing serious problems within many
organizations? 

-- 
Ben Compton
The Accidental Learning Group                  Work: (801) 222-6178
Improving Business through Science and Art     bcompton@geocities.com
http://www.e-ad.com/ben/BEN.HTM
 


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