Command-and-Control Costs
Today I'm trying to appease management after being told that my promise to the CEO wasn't being covered by the CEO, and whatever management wants, management gets. And so I've finished the work I know needs to be done... given copies of the database to others for their use, and then emailed a few things about the production set-up. In all, it's been a good day. But now I'm stuck. Nothing to do.
So it's struck me that this compartmentalization of people and concerns is nice when you're dealing with insurgent cells, but it's kinda silly when you're in a business environment, and there are people that would help - if they only knew what they could do. This compartmentalization is a real killer of productivity - and morale, but let's stick with the real measurables - productivity.
Having one person control everything is a Bus Problem at the top - a bus hits this one guy and no one knows what was supposed to be done, or how things worked together, or anything. Cut of the head and the snake dies. I'm pretty sure that's something to be avoided.
Having one person control all the communication is inefficient as it places all communication in a serial queue that has but one actor: the processor. If he is busy, in a meeting, out for the day, on vacation, then nothing can be done because no one has the ability to process his messages. That's another form of the ...head of the snake problem, but it will occur no matter where in the organization this person is. Doesn't have to be the head.
All scheduling has to go through this one person, and that means that it's incredibly hard for them to effectively react to quick changes in individual's productivity. They dish things out - as they see fit - not asking anything - not sharing any plans - and so it's hard to adjust the plans when you aren't putting several minds towards the task.
The funny thing is that I don't believe they want to be treated like this - they just feel that it's their right to treat us this way. So sad... such a waste...