Comments on: Story time 6: synaptic marketing http://cultureby.com/2005/08/story_time_6_sy.html This Blog Sits At the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics Thu, 17 May 2012 21:10:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: c davis http://cultureby.com/2005/08/story_time_6_sy.html/comment-page-1#comment-5903 c davis Tue, 30 Aug 2005 22:19:22 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=891#comment-5903 I recall that your story is about McGeorge Bundy, not Robert McNamara. If memory serves, it appears in Bird's biography of the Bundy brothers ("Color of truth," which, poetically for this story, is gray). I recall that your story is about McGeorge Bundy, not Robert McNamara. If memory serves, it appears in Bird’s biography of the Bundy brothers (“Color of truth,” which, poetically for this story, is gray).

]]> By: fouroboros http://cultureby.com/2005/08/story_time_6_sy.html/comment-page-1#comment-5902 fouroboros Sat, 20 Aug 2005 20:21:18 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=891#comment-5902 So, it was Zyman's turn. To our astonishment, his head rotated 360 degrees and flipped back as if on a hinge. In it's place, a la a transformer revealing itself, the head of Darth Vader constucted itself, then opened up further to reveal huge jaws. Sergio Vader ate the closest quarterback, and said: "Next?" So, it was Zyman’s turn. To our astonishment, his head rotated 360 degrees and flipped back as if on a hinge. In it’s place, a la a transformer revealing itself, the head of Darth Vader constucted itself, then opened up further to reveal huge jaws. Sergio Vader ate the closest quarterback, and said: “Next?”

]]> By: Irene http://cultureby.com/2005/08/story_time_6_sy.html/comment-page-1#comment-5901 Irene Sat, 20 Aug 2005 09:18:51 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=891#comment-5901 Some weeks, story time makes me tense. But it always rewards. After the Greek-like catharsis of last week (poor, poor Mr. ExpensiveShoes!), I enjoyed the triumphant arc of this tale. However I think I missed the point because it took me 25 minutes and several drafts to compose this comment. Some weeks, story time makes me tense. But it always rewards. After the Greek-like catharsis of last week (poor, poor Mr. ExpensiveShoes!), I enjoyed the triumphant arc of this tale. However I think I missed the point because it took me 25 minutes and several drafts to compose this comment.

]]> By: Peter McB. http://cultureby.com/2005/08/story_time_6_sy.html/comment-page-1#comment-5900 Peter McB. Sat, 20 Aug 2005 05:43:35 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=891#comment-5900 On the topic of management setting the bar high: I had the good fortune in the 1990s to consult to most of the Baby Bells (the Regional Bell Operating Companies, or RBOCs) created from the break-up of AT&T in 1984. They were all in the same core business, all quasi-monopolies, all were run by similar, conservative middle-aged mostly-male engineers, all of them products of the AT&T culture (which like all corporate cultures had both strengths and weaknesses). What was interesting to see was how differently the different RBOCs had set the bar internally. Some were relentless in requiring well-argued, well-presented, fully-justified internal reports and proposals. In others, any old last-minute sloppiness would do. The only explanation for the differences that I could see were the personalities of the very top people: if the CEO insists on the best, he or she may well get it. On the topic of management setting the bar high: I had the good fortune in the 1990s to consult to most of the Baby Bells (the Regional Bell Operating Companies, or RBOCs) created from the break-up of AT&T in 1984. They were all in the same core business, all quasi-monopolies, all were run by similar, conservative middle-aged mostly-male engineers, all of them products of the AT&T culture (which like all corporate cultures had both strengths and weaknesses). What was interesting to see was how differently the different RBOCs had set the bar internally. Some were relentless in requiring well-argued, well-presented, fully-justified internal reports and proposals. In others, any old last-minute sloppiness would do. The only explanation for the differences that I could see were the personalities of the very top people: if the CEO insists on the best, he or she may well get it.

]]> By: George Girton http://cultureby.com/2005/08/story_time_6_sy.html/comment-page-1#comment-5899 George Girton Sat, 20 Aug 2005 01:40:36 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=891#comment-5899 Nice job of patting yourself on the back; I'm sure it was a wonderful moment. When you return to the topic it would be fun to hear recounted what was actually said. Still, you met your deadline. Cheers! Nice job of patting yourself on the back; I’m sure it was a wonderful moment. When you return to the topic it would be fun to hear recounted what was actually said. Still, you met your deadline. Cheers!

]]> By: Matt http://cultureby.com/2005/08/story_time_6_sy.html/comment-page-1#comment-5898 Matt Sat, 20 Aug 2005 01:38:34 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=891#comment-5898 Management that's not judgmental isn't management at all. Especially not at a company like Coca-Cola that's in a very real way a victim of its own success. Your customers don't care if you feel good about yourself as a person...they care about the quality of your work for them. If you think the folks above you in the corporate chain of command should have priorities in opposition to the priorities of your company's customers, then frankly you don't _deserve_ to succeed. Management that’s not judgmental isn’t management at all. Especially not at a company like Coca-Cola that’s in a very real way a victim of its own success.

Your customers don’t care if you feel good about yourself as a person…they care about the quality of your work for them. If you think the folks above you in the corporate chain of command should have priorities in opposition to the priorities of your company’s customers, then frankly you don’t _deserve_ to succeed.

]]> By: Matt Hulbert http://cultureby.com/2005/08/story_time_6_sy.html/comment-page-1#comment-5897 Matt Hulbert Fri, 19 Aug 2005 23:32:03 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=891#comment-5897 Another entry in the Friday Tease. :) Another entry in the Friday Tease. :)

]]> By: Steve Portigal http://cultureby.com/2005/08/story_time_6_sy.html/comment-page-1#comment-5896 Steve Portigal Fri, 19 Aug 2005 21:18:56 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=891#comment-5896 FYI all the text in this story is (presumably inadvertently) bold. Or boldfaced. I didn't say baldfaced though. FYI all the text in this story is (presumably inadvertently) bold. Or boldfaced. I didn’t say baldfaced though.

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