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Lesson 4: Abilene Paradox:Lesson 4: Abilene Paradox:Symptoms & CausesSymptoms & Causes
Dr. Michael J. PiersonDr. Michael J. PiersonExit
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Some of you have made tripsSome of you have made trips to Abilene & don’t know it!to Abilene & don’t know it!
Click here to readClick here to readthe Abilene Paradox.the Abilene Paradox.
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In order to go to Abilene In order to go to Abilene you must exhibit certain you must exhibit certain
symptoms!symptoms!
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In private, members of a group In private, members of a group individually agree about what to do individually agree about what to do with a situation or problem in an with a situation or problem in an organization.organization.
Example: Everyone was happy to stay Example: Everyone was happy to stay in Coleman & play dominoes.in Coleman & play dominoes.
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Symptom OneSymptom One
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Members fail to publicly & accurately Members fail to publicly & accurately communicate how they feel, & they communicate how they feel, & they keep things to themselves.keep things to themselves.
They acquiesce to each other They acquiesce to each other (consent without protest) & lead one (consent without protest) & lead one another into misperceiving another into misperceiving collective reality.collective reality.
Example: The family members all said Example: The family members all said they wanted to go to Abilene.they wanted to go to Abilene.
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Symptom TwoSymptom Two
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With bad data members make With bad data members make decisions that are contrary to what decisions that are contrary to what they want to do.they want to do.
Example: Going to Abilene when you Example: Going to Abilene when you prefer to stay in Coleman.prefer to stay in Coleman.
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Symptom ThreeSymptom Three
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You accept decisions that you don’t You accept decisions that you don’t agree with & feel frustrated & angry.agree with & feel frustrated & angry.
Subgroups are formed, and blame is Subgroups are formed, and blame is placed on other subgroups or placed on other subgroups or authority figures.authority figures.
Example: The family pointed fingers at Example: The family pointed fingers at everyone and then finally at the everyone and then finally at the authority figure.authority figure.
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Symptom FourSymptom Four
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WatergateWatergateWas A Was A Trip ToTrip ToAbilene!Abilene!
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Click here toClick here toview video.view video.
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Let’s Look At WatergateLet’s Look At Watergate
On June 17, 1972, a security guard at On June 17, 1972, a security guard at D.C.’s Watergate hotel and apartment D.C.’s Watergate hotel and apartment complex called police when he complex called police when he noticed a stairwell door lock had been noticed a stairwell door lock had been rigged not to lock.rigged not to lock.
Officers responded and caught five Officers responded and caught five intruders inside the headquarters of intruders inside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee the Democratic National Committee (DNC). (DNC).
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The burglars were there to check some The burglars were there to check some bugging equipment installed in another bugging equipment installed in another break-in in May and to photograph the break-in in May and to photograph the Democrats' documents.Democrats' documents.
The break-in was directly linked to the The break-in was directly linked to the reelection campaign office of President reelection campaign office of President Richard M. Nixon and unraveled Richard M. Nixon and unraveled political spying, sabotage, bribery, and political spying, sabotage, bribery, and the illegal use of campaign funds. the illegal use of campaign funds.
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Discovery of these activities and the Discovery of these activities and the cover-up by the Nixon administration cover-up by the Nixon administration resulted in the indictments of resulted in the indictments of approximately 40 government officials approximately 40 government officials and the resignation of the president. and the resignation of the president.
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Members of Nixon’s inner circle who Members of Nixon’s inner circle who were involved in making the decision to were involved in making the decision to carry out the plan to spy on the carry out the plan to spy on the Democrats included: Herbert Porter, Democrats included: Herbert Porter, member of the White House staff, member of the White House staff, JebJeb MagruderMagruder, deputy campaign director, , deputy campaign director, John MitchellJohn Mitchell, head of Nixon’s re-, head of Nixon’s re-election committee & former attorney election committee & former attorney general, and general, and G. Gordon G. Gordon LiddyLiddy, former , former FBI agent.FBI agent.
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The Watergate scandal has become the The Watergate scandal has become the benchmark against which all other benchmark against which all other political scandals are measured. political scandals are measured.
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Let’s look at Let’s look at decision-making in the decision-making in the
Watergate Scandal!Watergate Scandal!
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Porter Said…Porter Said…
““It was illegal, immoral, and I wasn’t in It was illegal, immoral, and I wasn’t in favor of it.”favor of it.”
How did you vote? “I voted to bug it.”How did you vote? “I voted to bug it.” Why? “The other three were in favor of Why? “The other three were in favor of
it so I thought they knew something I it so I thought they knew something I didn’t.”didn’t.”
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Magruder Said…Magruder Said…
““I wasn’t in favor of bugging.”I wasn’t in favor of bugging.” How did you vote? “I voted to bug it.”How did you vote? “I voted to bug it.” Why? “The other three were in favor of Why? “The other three were in favor of
it so I thought they knew something I it so I thought they knew something I didn’t.”didn’t.”
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Mitchell Said…Mitchell Said…
What was your reaction to Liddy when What was your reaction to Liddy when he came to you with the plan to bug he came to you with the plan to bug Watergate?Watergate?
““I thought he was insane and should I thought he was insane and should have thrown him out the window.”have thrown him out the window.”
What did you tell him? What did you tell him? ““Let’s send the plan back for further Let’s send the plan back for further
study.”study.”
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LiddyLiddy
He hasn’t really talked about Watergate.He hasn’t really talked about Watergate. He probably thought we’ve got another He probably thought we’ve got another
boring meeting with the Attorney boring meeting with the Attorney General, and I will liven it up with an General, and I will liven it up with an outrageous idea to bug Watergate.outrageous idea to bug Watergate.
Suddenly he finds himself in jail with no Suddenly he finds himself in jail with no idea how he got there.idea how he got there.
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The Abilene Paradox DilemmaThe Abilene Paradox Dilemma
Why do those who want to play Why do those who want to play dominoes in Coleman go to Abilene?dominoes in Coleman go to Abilene?
What causes people who want peace to What causes people who want peace to go to war?go to war?
What causes people who believe in What causes people who believe in legal activities to participate in illegal legal activities to participate in illegal activities?activities?
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It’s crazy!It’s crazy!We call it tact, loyalty, team work, We call it tact, loyalty, team work, not wanting to cause problems, or not wanting to cause problems, or organizational necessity when we organizational necessity when we
act like this!act like this!
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The more leaders are out The more leaders are out of touch with the reality of of touch with the reality of their followers, the more their followers, the more likely they are to be like likely they are to be like former President Nixon.former President Nixon.
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What are the causes of going What are the causes of going
to Abilene?to Abilene?
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1. Action anxiety.1. Action anxiety.
2. Fear of separation.2. Fear of separation.
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First Cause Of Trips To Abilene: First Cause Of Trips To Abilene: Action AnxietyAction Anxiety
It’s also called the Hamlet Syndrome: It’s also called the Hamlet Syndrome: “To be or not to be, that is the “To be or not to be, that is the question.”question.”
When we know the action that should When we know the action that should be taken, & we become so anxious that be taken, & we become so anxious that we can’t carry through with it. we can’t carry through with it.
You know what you want to say but you You know what you want to say but you can’t say it!can’t say it!
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We Practice Action Anxiety When We...We Practice Action Anxiety When We...
Forecast negative hypotheses about Forecast negative hypotheses about what will happen if we behave sensibly, what will happen if we behave sensibly, logically, and rationally.logically, and rationally.
Listen to someone who comes to us Listen to someone who comes to us with a problem and a negative with a problem and a negative hypotheses, they are asking you for a hypotheses, they are asking you for a bus ticket to Abilene.bus ticket to Abilene.
Some of us not only give them the Some of us not only give them the ticket but actually drive them.ticket but actually drive them.
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Example: Example: The Domino Theory The Domino Theory hypothesized that if we withdrew from hypothesized that if we withdrew from Viet Nam, we would have to fight the Viet Nam, we would have to fight the Communists hand-to-hand in Los Communists hand-to-hand in Los Angeles.Angeles.
Example: “This is a lousy place to work; Example: “This is a lousy place to work; you can’t try anything new!” Why? you can’t try anything new!” Why? “Because they will get you!” Who will “Because they will get you!” Who will get you? “I don’t know; they are get you? “I don’t know; they are sneaky!”sneaky!”
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We Also Practice Action Anxiety We Also Practice Action Anxiety When We...When We...
Fear the unknown. This is the ultimate Fear the unknown. This is the ultimate risk that puts you in the unairconditioned risk that puts you in the unairconditioned ‘58 Buick with the doors locked and the ‘58 Buick with the doors locked and the windows rolled up.windows rolled up.
We need to fear the known, not the We need to fear the known, not the unknown; that makes sense!unknown; that makes sense!
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Second Cause of Trips to Abilene: Second Cause of Trips to Abilene: Fear of SeparationFear of Separation
Connection is a requirement for human Connection is a requirement for human survival. survival.
Any act that has potential for Any act that has potential for disconnecting is terrifying to us, and disconnecting is terrifying to us, and we will do anything to avoid it.we will do anything to avoid it.
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Anaclitic depression is psychological Anaclitic depression is psychological separation from those we lean on for separation from those we lean on for support.support.
Marasmus is the spiritual, mental, and Marasmus is the spiritual, mental, and physical wasting away when anaclitic physical wasting away when anaclitic depression is not relieved by depression is not relieved by attachment to others.attachment to others.
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If you threaten separation, you are If you threaten separation, you are encouraging marasmus and starting encouraging marasmus and starting someone down the road to Abilene.someone down the road to Abilene.
Example: The marriage is on the rocks, Example: The marriage is on the rocks, I’m afraid to talk about it, we might I’m afraid to talk about it, we might argue, it might end up in divorce argue, it might end up in divorce (separation), so I will do nothing.(separation), so I will do nothing.
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How can you determine if How can you determine if you are on the road to you are on the road to
Abilene?Abilene?
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Answer The Following Questions:Answer The Following Questions:
1. Is there conflict in the organization?1. Is there conflict in the organization?2. Do members feel frustrated, powerless, 2. Do members feel frustrated, powerless,
and unhappy?and unhappy?3. Are some looking for a way to escape?3. Are some looking for a way to escape?4. Do members place the blame on the 4. Do members place the blame on the
leader or other groups?leader or other groups?5. Do small groups meet and say, “We 5. Do small groups meet and say, “We
should do…”should do…”
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6. When some groups meet with other 6. When some groups meet with other groups to discuss problems, do they groups to discuss problems, do they soften their positions, state them soften their positions, state them ambiguously, or reverse positions?ambiguously, or reverse positions?
7. After such meetings, do members 7. After such meetings, do members complain they didn’t say what they complain they didn’t say what they needed to say and give a list of reasons needed to say and give a list of reasons why?why?
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8. Do attempts to solve the problem just 8. Do attempts to solve the problem just make things worse because people are make things worse because people are acquiescing?acquiescing?
9. Do members seem to get along better 9. Do members seem to get along better outside the organization than inside it?outside the organization than inside it?
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If you answered yes to If you answered yes to these questions, you are these questions, you are on the road to Abilene!!on the road to Abilene!!
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What Have You Learned?What Have You Learned?
1. Leaders should allow negative 1. Leaders should allow negative hypotheses in an organization.hypotheses in an organization.
2. Leaders should reduce the fear of 2. Leaders should reduce the fear of conflict.conflict.
3. If collective reality is understood the 3. If collective reality is understood the Abilene Paradox can be avoided.Abilene Paradox can be avoided.
4. Open & honest communication can help 4. Open & honest communication can help prevent the Abilene Paradox.prevent the Abilene Paradox.
5. Marasumus helps overcome the fear of 5. Marasumus helps overcome the fear of separation.separation.
DirectionsDirections: Read each question & click on “T” (true) or “F” (false).: Read each question & click on “T” (true) or “F” (false).
T
T
F
F
T F
T F
T F
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AssignmentsAssignments
Finish reading Finish reading The Abilene Paradox.The Abilene Paradox. E-mail a one-page discussion of E-mail a one-page discussion of
whether you feel it is right to use whether you feel it is right to use external force to your professor.external force to your professor.
Use PowerPoint to develop a concept Use PowerPoint to develop a concept map of Lesson 4 and e-mail it to your map of Lesson 4 and e-mail it to your professor.professor.
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