An Old Joke and Management

You'll recall the old joke about the person who was found on his hands and knees searching in his living room for a lost ring. Upon questioning, he reveals that although the ring was lost in the bedroom he prefers searching in the living room because "The light's better out here."

I occasionally think of that story when analyzing management situations. Too often, the problem or solution has been dictated by convenience. It's easier to blame this or easier to do that and so convenience quickly trumps logic and effectiveness. In some cases, the answer may have made sense when circumstances were very different and yet no one has updated the solution.

Beware of the allure of the glib explanation or the easy way out. As an old military saying puts it, "The shortest path is usually mined."