INCIDENTALLY: Modern Management - Up in the Air
A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude
and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted,
"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an
hour ago, but I don't know where I am." The woman below replied,
"You're in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the
ground. You're between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between
59 and 60 degrees west longitude." "You must be in Information
Technology," said the balloonist. "I am," replied the woman, "How
did you know?" "Well," answered the balloonist, everything you told
me is technically correct, but I've no idea what to make of your
information and the fact is I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been
much help at all. If anything, you've delayed my trip." The woman
below responded, "You must be in Management." "I am," replied the
balloonist, "but how did you know that?" "Well," said the woman,
"you don't know where you are or where you're going. You have risen
to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a
promise which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect people
beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly
the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's
my fault!