If I Ran the Zoo

Primate House

This problem is being transferred elsewhere (i.e., to someone else); Just as long as "I" get the monkey    -- off my back    -- off my desk    -- off my plate    -- off my action list Issued closed

 

A management system which gained notoriety in the 1980s was called "Monkey Management" in which everything on your chore list is a called a "monkey." 

That system is just as popular today
-- in fact, it is so common place that it largely goes unrecognized.

In Monkey Management, your objective is to either: Feed the monkey (keep it happy);  Get rid of it (if it's not yours);  or shoot it!

Most people treat this as a game and many learn to play it well.

Their primary objective is just to get rid of their monkeys -- to someone else, of course.

-- rather than to actually solve the problems or accomplish anything really useful.

(Even if it is their problem, they just "claim" that it is not.)

 
Unfortunately, many organizations keep score of things as though everything were a game. 

• This leads to creative, $13-dollar-bill accounting.
  
• Enron Executives Exceled in spreadsheet shenanigans
  
• Spin, spin - we count how many issues we close (not solve).

The problem gets passed around until the issue is eventually forgotten and dies a natural death -- with the original problem still there.

Let's all sing, "Forward Ho, Status Quo."

See also sbs

she·nan·i·gan   [noun]

- A devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose
- Tricky or questionable practices or conduct -- usually used in plural
- High-spirited or mischievous activity -- usually used in plural