Steering committee: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{a|people|[[File:Steerco.gif|450px|thumb|center|A steering committee, yesterday.]]}}{{d|Steering committee|/ˈstɪərɪŋ/ /kəˈmɪti/|n|}} | ||
We do not find it remarkable that, in a century and a half of automotive technology, the drafters of the Highway Code have never once found the space to sanction the operation of a motor-vehicle by consensus. A car is more likely — these days, ''far'' more likely — effectively to drive itself than it is to be driven by a committee. | |||
A committee will steer it into the nearest wall. Indeed, only the physical impossibility of the same unitary object travelling in two directions at once would prevent a committee steering into ''every'' wall. | |||
Yet — every day, in every organisation, thousands | These are truths we hold to be self-evident. | ||
Yet — every day, in every organisation, thousands of well-intentioned employees spend their lives on, subject to, being broken on a wheel by, or being vigorously propelled about the confines of their employer's premises like tiny passengers in a deflating balloon thanks to the resolutions of, [[steering committee]]s. | |||
Most [[metaphor|metaphors]] don’t bear close examination. This one does. | Most [[metaphor|metaphors]] don’t bear close examination. This one does. | ||
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{{sa}} | {{sa}} | ||
*[[Operating committee]] | *[[Operating committee]] | ||
*[[ | *[[Ouija board]] | ||
Latest revision as of 07:20, 21 September 2021
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People Anatomy™
A spotter’s guide to the men and women of finance. 
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Steering committee
/ˈstɪərɪŋ/ /kəˈmɪti/ (n.)
We do not find it remarkable that, in a century and a half of automotive technology, the drafters of the Highway Code have never once found the space to sanction the operation of a motor-vehicle by consensus. A car is more likely — these days, far more likely — effectively to drive itself than it is to be driven by a committee.
A committee will steer it into the nearest wall. Indeed, only the physical impossibility of the same unitary object travelling in two directions at once would prevent a committee steering into every wall.
These are truths we hold to be self-evident.
Yet — every day, in every organisation, thousands of well-intentioned employees spend their lives on, subject to, being broken on a wheel by, or being vigorously propelled about the confines of their employer's premises like tiny passengers in a deflating balloon thanks to the resolutions of, steering committees.
Most metaphors don’t bear close examination. This one does.