The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management [Paperback]

Jerry B. Harvey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787902772 | ISBN-13: 978-0787902773 | Publication Date: August 23, 1988 | Edition: 1

Faulty decision-making can have dire consequences, and when it comes to group decisions, the challenges are even greater. Join Dr. Jerry B. Harvey as he clearly illustrates why no organization wants to find themselves goin' to Abilene.
See how group dynamics can keep individuals from stating their true beliefs for fear of isolation and separation, and how that often leads to mismanaged agreement.
You'll learn to recognize the warning signs of risky group dynamics and improve decision-making processes throughout your organization.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Harvey's meditations are a joy. They are the most exquisite essays on management that I've read in over a decade. In fact, this is the only book about management that I've really loved." --Warren Bennis, coauthor of Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge and author of Why Leaders Can't Lead

"Jerry Harvey has become a legAnd in his own time with the success of The Abilene Paradox--a principle of group behavior that has application in corporations, government, academia, and family alike. Now he takes aim at a host of other sacred organizational norms and, in succession, dismantles each. You'll smile at his insight and laugh at his wit." --Kenneth H. Blanchard, coauthor of The One-Minute Manager

From the Back Cover

When Jerry B. Harvey first coined the phrase "Abilene Paradox? in 1974 , he set off shock waves among business people across the country. Using a common family experience, he pointed out that events often gather momentum and take on lives of their own, in spite of the fact that nobody wants to take part in them.Harvey offers insightful and often uproariously funny "meditations? on the craziness of this paradox in our daily work lives. With familiar stories presented in surprising ways, Harvey reveals how organizations set themselves up for failure by fostering an atmosphere of alienation, distrust, and fear of risk-taking among their members.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (August 23, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787902772
• ISBN-13: 978-0787902773
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every manager with a conscience should read this book, March 22, 2000

By 

J. G. Heiser (Sunninghill, Berks) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management (Paperback)

Brilliant, wise, humane and funny, Harvey's classic book on organizational behavior is entertaining and thought provoking. Many of his explanations about corporate behavior struck a chord with me--I read this one with a pen in hand, jotting down notes about specific experiences that I have had in phrog farms. If you are unhappy at work, maybe it is not your fault--maybe you are stuck in a degrading and unhealthy work environment.

Harvey expects a great deal from leaders in business, politics, and even education, and is not reticent to criticize them for abusing their position of authority. He characterizes contemporary corporate culture as being a virtual conspiracy, assisted by a higher-education system that teaches students not to cooperate, but to actively resist working together. A radical idea that deserves some consideration.

This is almost--but not quite--a spiritual book, and the author even claims the attributes of a preacher. It is a secular take on the theme Edward Welch discusses in "When People are Big and God is Small." The fear of other people has tremendous negative consequences--both personally and organizationally. Like Welch, Harvey's highlights the benefit of overcoming that fear and provides practical advice on how to do it.

Anyone manager with a conscience should read Harvey, just to ensure that they are not perpetuating an unethical system.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Read" for the Information Technology Professional, August 6, 1999

By 

John Sagi ([e-mail]) (Annapolis, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management (Paperback)

In this age of silicon and snake oil, Dr Harvey's insights are right on the mark. Committees and boards frantically and often irrationally fund high-risk technology projects that, in years past, would be considered suspect if not insane. Amazingly, organizations can't wait to get on that road. Perhaps the Information Highway has an offramp to Abilene!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Belongs on the "Must Read" Section of the Mgt Bookshelf, February 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management (Paperback)

A friend of mine recommended that I read this book to better learn about organizational behavior. This was not only a quick, funny read, it was filled with some real "takeaways." I've since shared this book with others in our organization, and we have added phrases like "we're having an Abilene moment" and "ribbet!" to our vocabularies!!