Nov 18, 2009
How Do You Know When You Have a Bureaucracy?
A guest post by Matt Perman of What’s Best Next
Whenever people begin to ask, “Does it fit our rules,” rather than, “Does it serve our mission,” then you have a bureaucracy.
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This post fits 22 words’ rules.
One still needs the Rule of Law. The “don’t murder” and “don’t steal” really are fairly fundamental throughout the world.
But the spirit of the post is absolutely right on.
It is a amazing thing to me that “Rule of Law” cannot be defined by the written word. Rules can be written and re-written and amended forever, and still never achieve the Rule of Law. Perhaps that is the genius of Common Law.
Good thought. A little unclear in 22 words though. It’s not that rules are bad in themselves. It’s when rules get in the way of the mission instead of advancing the mission… *that’s* when you have a bureaucracy.
Exactly!
Nobody ever asks “Does it fit our rules.” That would be strategy, but bureaucracy is lethargy.
But think hard about the rules first. Sometimes there is hidden wisdom in them!
Good food for thought.