Management by Matrices

The 2 by 2 matrix is perhaps the most commonly used tool in a lot of management literature. Perhaps management theorists feel a trifle insecure about most of their 'postulates' which lie somwhere in the space between common sense and 'common sense expressed in fewer English words than lay persons'. It could be that Management is a Science that does not lend itself easily to formulaic expressions. Surely, if CK Prahlad were to say that organizations should focus on what they do best, it wouldn't sound like somethign worthy of a journal, but when he calls it 'core competence' , you have an idea that sells. It must also be said that this 'jargonization' is true with most disciplines. Perhaps practioners of a discipline feel more 'apart' from lay-persons when they use jargon. Actually... it makes sense. You dont see Pepsi marketing itself as ' sweet carbonated water'. Instead they would like us to believe that their product is the elixir of life itself!

The CC Handcuff

If you ever need to get work done out of someone at the workplace, try this. I call it the CC handcuff. It happens across all organizations and its about time someone gave it a name. I wonder if it falls under the category of games in transactional analysis. I know it sounds like some sort of martial arts hold, but believe me it is just as effective.

It works like this. Suppose, you are a newly joined manager in the system. No one really knows you in the organization and not too many people even take you all that seriously considering that you are just a fresh recruit. A typical problem that you would face is to get the regular employees to take time of their ‘busy’ schedule and spend some time doing something you want them to do. Here is where a carefully used CC handcuff comes into play.This is how it works:

Mr. Smart fires of a mail to the person (Mr.X) from whom he would like some work done. In the cc field he adds his boss, his boss’ boss and everyone else higher than him. While Mr. Smart composes the mail, he makes sure he casually involves his superiors in the ‘conversation’. Eg. “Mr. Smith, as we discussed today, the blah blah needs to be done in this fashion. Im sure Mr. X can assist us with the same”Now Mr. X has been handcuffed to the task that needs to be done. He cannot put in on the back burner since that would mean he would come across as inefficient to the superior. He cannot not reply to the mail. He cannot not do the task. He has been handcuffed! Suddenly, Mr. Smart’s task climbs up Mr. X’s priority list.Anti-thesis: A poorly timed CC handcuff could lead to a situation where Mr. Smart gets an instant reply in his inbox that looks like this. “Mr. X is away on leave. He will be accessing his mails only after he is back. In case of emergency call xxxxxx”.

From a transactional analysis perspective, I think the CC handcuff could well be a game. It comes across as an Adult-Adult transaction.

Adult: ‘We need to get this done. Mr.X can do it for us.’

Adult: ‘Yes, I can do it for you. I’m glad to be of help’

However, the ulterior transaction is of Parent-Child

Parent: ‘ You are handcuffed. Do as I say or the boss will kick your *** ’

Child: ‘Sigh! You got me. ’

Any TA experts out there who can can tell me if there exists a previously documented game of this nature?

[I had originally posted this on my personal blog here]

Readme

On this blog, you will find some of my original management related thoughts and observations as well as interesting stuff that I come across from other sources. I am an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur and curiously enough, graduated in engineering (this combination is not uncommon in India).

Meanwhile, my personal blog exists here, in case you want to read about my other interests.

Enjoy!