wally at work

If it comes down to shuttin/Them down/I'm in the hood surrounded

More great 'how to ruin a project' news for you today.

After the great disaster (which we actually pulled off) 'they' have decided to have a project look back meeting. Knowing full well that the meeting is going to turn into a pissing contest between civil servants with egos (the worst of the worst)... I thought I would lay some ground work into how to have a good look back meeting.

I started by saying that the most important thing is that everyone comes away from the meeting knowing both the positives and the negatives. The positives so that we get that nice warm cosy feeling that we all did a good job, and the negatives so that we don't make the same bastard mistakes again.

I went on to say that in order to ensure that we don't make the same mistakes again, everyone has to be man enough (there are no woman at the meeting... which could be a reason why the project came so close to failing...) to own up to the mistakes that they have made. I started by saying (in front of my staff no less) that 'sure, I had made mistakes. perhaps I could have shared more information more effectively.' At which point I looked at the other manager in the office expecting something similar....

yeah right. eventually he finally said (and I quote) 'I suppose I made some mistakes.' (long pause) 'but to be fair on me, it wasn't my fault that I made the mistakes as I was put into a position that forced me to make mistakes'.

I just stared in disbelief. It amazed me that in one swift motion, he admited making a mistake and yet at the same time shifted the blame for said mistake to someone else. I don't honestly recall him being forced in any way, shape, or form to make a mistake. Its not like someone held a gun to his head and told him to take 2 weeks holiday just as the project was nearing completion. ie... 2 weeks left on the project... he took 2 weeks holiday.

it beggers belief. it really does.

Title: Public Enemy, What Side You On? from Muse Sick In Hour Mess Age

posted by Wally @ 12:27 pm