Frederick Winslow Taylor, the American engineer who wrote The Principles of Scientific Management, believed that the most efficient approach to work was analysing each aspect of a worker’s role. Now, Atom Bank has put this concept to the test, introducing a four-day week after analysing 170 different metrics of productivity. It’s a good reminder that managers must focus on data and trust in order to track the productivity of workers, especially those working remotely. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
