March 15, 2010

Consensus Management: A Cone of Silence


"A consensus means that everyone will say collectively what no one believes individually."

Abba Egan
20th century Jewish diplomat


Some of the best and worst management is consensus based. Best because regardless of what individuals say privately, publicly they are of one voice.

The trouble comes in the way consensus is reached and to over simplify, there are two possibilities; by individual choice and forced.


To the extent Toyota's troubles are due to a consensus of management silence about what many knew to be real problems, which would you guess got them to that point?


1 comment :

  1. Well as one who spent an entire career working for the Japanese, and Toyota being a Japanese company, I would say the consensus of what to do was forced.

    Sign me anonymous (I have a pension to worry about.)

    ReplyDelete