The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management - by Jerry B Harvey (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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.

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.

Review Quotes

"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

About the Author

JERRY B. HARVEY is professor of management science at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and author of the widely used McGraw-Hill management development film "The Abilene Paradox."