Dumb Organisations Quote by Isabel De Clercq
““We have relied on the wirearchy to make the hierarchy work. In every organisation today, employees must work their way around broken processes; they work to share information informally and people lobby the decision-making process that are supposedly remote and impartial. Work is too important to be left to dumb processes and dumb organisations.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Organizational Dynamics, Isabel De Clercq, 2021
Rigid hierarchies force employees to bypass broken processes, leading to informal networks and lobbying.
In simple terms: Bureaucracy pushes work into informal channels.
Key Takeaway
Simplify structures, empower staff.
Themes
bureaucracy
informal networks
decision making
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
business
philosophical
When to use this quote
- corporate
- government
- non‑profits
- start‑ups
Key Concepts
organizational design
process inefficiency
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations balance structure and flexibility?
- What safeguards prevent informal lobbying?
A Different Perspective
Informal work can create opacity and favoritism.
