I am forwarding an article on what is called the Abilene paradox by which a group of people acts in contradiction of the majority sentiments.
I have a friend who is an atheist but dare not declare his atheism for fear that atheism may upset his relationship with others and so he goes along with the religious ways of his relatives and friends. In all probability there are many in his group of friends and relations who thinks like him. Consequently the group as a whole may seem religious whereas the individuals may not be so religious. There are situations when the opinions of the majority may be opposite to that of the group as a whole.
According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox In an Abilene paradox a group of people collectively decide on a course of action that is counter to the preferences of many (or all) of the individuals in the group.[1][2] It involves a common breakdown of group communication in which each member mistakenly believes that their own preferences are counter to the group's and, therefore, does not raise objections. A common phrase relating to the Abilene Paradox is a desire not to "rock the boat." This differs fromgroupthink in that the Abilene paradox is characterized by an inability to manage agreement.[3]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <eitctour@gmail.com>
Date: 31 May 2016 at 05:37
Subject: The. Abilene paradox
To: Xavier William <varekatx@gmail.com>
30/05/16, 4:32:18 PM: Hashir: Forwarded as received
*The Abilene Paradox*
On my birthday a couple of years back, I wanted to take my family out for dinner. I asked my wife where we can go. Knowing that I like Gujarati food, she immediately said: "Let's go to Agashiye - The Terrace Restaurant."
My son and daughter both nodded in agreement. On return my son said: "I wish Pappa had taken us to Mainland China – he loves Chinese food." "Or at least to Shere-E-Punjab for the wonderful tandoori chicken" added my daughter. "Yes, I too would have loved to go Mainland China", I said.
_My wife looked surprised: "But didn't we all unanimously agree to go to Agashiye," she asked._
I said sheepishly "I didn't want you to feel bad." And both my children nodded in agreement. Here were four people who of their own volition would not have gone to 'Agashiye - The Terrace Restaurant, but collectively agreed to go there.
This also happens in the corporate world. This is the Abilene Paradox. Prof. Jerry Harvey calls it *"The Inability to Manage Agreement".*
*The Abilene Paradox occurs when a group of people collectively decide on a course of action that is contrary to the preferences of most of the individuals in the group.*
Prof. Harvey states in his paper 'The Abilene Paradox': *"Organizations frequently take actions in contradiction to what they really want to do and therefore defeat the very purpose they are trying to achieve".* This is the _inability to manage agreement._
He adds: *"The inability to manage agreement, not the inability to manage conflict, is the essential symptom that defines organizations caught in the web of the Abilene Paradox."*
In the corporate world, when the top boss throws an idea, the group immediately agrees. This is because everyone in the group thinks he would look stupid if he disagrees. Standing out as a lone voice is very embarrassing. This leads the group to decide on 'yes' when 'no' would have been the personal (and the correct) response of the majority.
I love this from _Ayn Rand_: *"If we have an endless number of individual minds who are weak, meek, submissive and impotent – who renounce their creative supremacy for the sake of the "whole" and accept humbly the 'whole's verdict' – we don't get a collective super-brain. We get only the weak, meek, submissive and impotent collection of minds."*
Sent from my iPhone
From: <eitctour@gmail.com>
Date: 31 May 2016 at 05:37
Subject: The. Abilene paradox
To: Xavier William <varekatx@gmail.com>
30/05/16, 4:32:18 PM: Hashir: Forwarded as received
*The Abilene Paradox*
On my birthday a couple of years back, I wanted to take my family out for dinner. I asked my wife where we can go. Knowing that I like Gujarati food, she immediately said: "Let's go to Agashiye - The Terrace Restaurant."
My son and daughter both nodded in agreement. On return my son said: "I wish Pappa had taken us to Mainland China – he loves Chinese food." "Or at least to Shere-E-Punjab for the wonderful tandoori chicken" added my daughter. "Yes, I too would have loved to go Mainland China", I said.
_My wife looked surprised: "But didn't we all unanimously agree to go to Agashiye," she asked._
I said sheepishly "I didn't want you to feel bad." And both my children nodded in agreement. Here were four people who of their own volition would not have gone to 'Agashiye - The Terrace Restaurant, but collectively agreed to go there.
This also happens in the corporate world. This is the Abilene Paradox. Prof. Jerry Harvey calls it *"The Inability to Manage Agreement".*
*The Abilene Paradox occurs when a group of people collectively decide on a course of action that is contrary to the preferences of most of the individuals in the group.*
Prof. Harvey states in his paper 'The Abilene Paradox': *"Organizations frequently take actions in contradiction to what they really want to do and therefore defeat the very purpose they are trying to achieve".* This is the _inability to manage agreement._
He adds: *"The inability to manage agreement, not the inability to manage conflict, is the essential symptom that defines organizations caught in the web of the Abilene Paradox."*
In the corporate world, when the top boss throws an idea, the group immediately agrees. This is because everyone in the group thinks he would look stupid if he disagrees. Standing out as a lone voice is very embarrassing. This leads the group to decide on 'yes' when 'no' would have been the personal (and the correct) response of the majority.
I love this from _Ayn Rand_: *"If we have an endless number of individual minds who are weak, meek, submissive and impotent – who renounce their creative supremacy for the sake of the "whole" and accept humbly the 'whole's verdict' – we don't get a collective super-brain. We get only the weak, meek, submissive and impotent collection of minds."*
Sent from my iPhone
Regards
Xavier William
"All new ideas good or bad, great or small start with a one-man minority" - anonymous
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Posted by: Xavier William <varekatx@gmail.com>
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