Downside: It invites Cynicism. Upside: It allows the CEO to make an example of a Cynic and keep other Cynics in line.
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6 comments
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June 15, 2011 at 4:13 pm
test
you can’t be serious about putting up Ballmer as a posterboy for CEOs (here’s a vision statement for you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eywi0h_Y5_U). or did i miss some really delicate sarcasm?
June 16, 2011 at 6:53 am
Sandeep Baliga
Do the videos need additional interpretation?
June 16, 2011 at 9:39 am
jamesoswald
I think so. Let’s assume workers have two traits: smarts and enthusiasm. Enthusiastic workers want to support their CEO and are willing to say silly things to do so. Smart workers know game theory.
Stupid and enthusiastic workers will always say “Bing!”
Stupid and unenthusiastic will not say “Bing!”, not realizing that will get them fired.
Smart and enthusiastic workers have no reason not to say “Bing!”.
Smart and unenthusiastic workers don’t want to look stupid and get fired, so they say “Bing!”
So if a worker does not say “Bing!”, they must be both stupid and unenthusiastic. Not good traits for a worker to have, so they are fired.
June 16, 2011 at 11:46 am
jeff
bing.
June 16, 2011 at 9:37 am
What do Kim Jong Il and Steve Ballmer have in common? « azmytheconomics
[…] Baliga wrote a blog post on what it takes to be a great CEO, which implied enthusiasm and the ability to keep cynics in line are highly important. I took a […]
June 16, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Sandeep Baliga
James: I love your theory.