Steering committee: Difference between revisions

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We do not find it remarkable that, in a century and a half of automotive technology, the drafters of the Highway Code have never found the space to sanction the operation of a vehicle by consensus. A car is more likely - these days, ''far'' more likely - effectively to drive itself than been driven by a committee. A committee will steer it into the nearest wall. Indeed, only the physical impossibility of a unitary object travelling in two distinct directions at once would prevent a committee steering into ''every'' wall.
We do not find it remarkable that, in a century and a half of automotive technology, the drafters of the Highway Code have never found the space to sanction the operation of a 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 a 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.
These are truths we hold to be self evident.


Yet—every day, in every organisation, thousands upon thousands of well-intentioned employees spend their lives on, subject to, or being vigorously propelled about the confines of their employer's premises like tiny passengers in a deflating balloon, by [[steering committee]]s.  
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.

Revision as of 09:40, 24 May 2018

We do not find it remarkable that, in a century and a half of automotive technology, the drafters of the Highway Code have never found the space to sanction the operation of a 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 a 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.

See also

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