THE DEVELOPMENT OF GROUP ATTITUDE
Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a
banana on a string, and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a
monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon
as he
touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water.
After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result, all
the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water.
Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other
monkeys will try to prevent it. Now, put away the cold water.
Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one.
The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs.
To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him.
After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the
stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a
new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked.
The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm!
Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth,
and then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is
attacked.
Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not
permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating
of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys
have ever been sprayed with cold water.
Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the
banana.
Why not?
Because as far as they know that’s the way it’s always been done around
here.
And that, my dear friends, is how company policy begins
Yup, just like my place of employment!
Hee hee, LOve Ingie
