Dogbert's Top Secret
Management Handbook
By Scott Adams
HarperBusiness, $16
ISBN 0887307884
Also available on audio
from HarperAudio, $12
Audio ISBN 0694517720
Management wisdom from a dog?
Review by Michael Pellecchia
Most satire has a shred of truth, so I went into Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook (as told to) Scott Adams looking for the shreds.
- "Wear impressive clothes." Good advice anytime
- "Freedom's just another word for not caring about the quality
of your work." This one takes some thought. Behind those words is a popular and surprisingly effective notion.
- "Avoid making decisions." Though Dogbert is being sarcastic, this can be a very powerful tactic.
- "Signs of Potential Managers: . . . They mimic your mannerisms and appearance in such detail that you can use them as a mirror to locate and remove bits of food from your teeth." This statement is a Dave Barry-esque ellipse: the first part of it is truth, the last part is exaggeration. Mirroring is an excellent form of communication with anyone.
- "Anytime is the right time for shallow compliments." Dogbert's bitterness is showing here, but he's right. There's always time to thank the little people.
- "The compensation plan is an important tool for keeping salaries low." This may be a jab, but it works in Silicon Valley. Top performers are often motivated by stock options. And many tax laws favor creative compensation.
At the end of the book, Dogbert offers "Ten Rules of Management." Of these, you can truly take to heart three of them.
1. "You're always right, even when you're stupid."
2. "The physical laws of time and space were meant to be broken."
3. "Teamwork is when other people do your work for you."
For the other seven, which are merely funny but not useful, you'll have to buy the book.
Michael Pellecchia writes about business and finance books each month He can be reached at michael_pellecchia@bookpage.com.
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