THE DILBERT PRINCIPLE

Author: Scott Adams
Publisher: HarperBusiness
ISBN-10: 0887308589
ISBN-13: 9780887308581
Publication Year: 1997

Review:
The cover of this book sums up the contents well; this is “a cubicle’s – eye view of bosses, meetings, management fads, & other workplace afflictions.” The basis for the book started as an article Mr. Adams published in the Wall Street Journal on May 22, 1995. The gist of the “Dilbert Principle” is “that the most ineffective workers are systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage: management.” This principle and associated concepts are illustrated by numerous short comic strips.

Of particular interest is the chapter, “Engineers, Scientists, Programmers, and Other Odd People.” The statement is made that engineers are not like other people, and that non-technical people can be frustrated when they need to deal with them. Some of the subheadings in this chapter include Social Skills, Fascination with Gadgets, Fashion and Appearance, Love of Star Trek, Dating and Social Life, and Battling Unfair Stereotypes. I love this quote from this chapter, “Male engineers reach their peak of sexual attractiveness later than normal men, becoming irresistible erotic dynamos in their mid thirties to late forties.” Mr. Adams gives as examples Bill Gates and MacGyver!

While the book is humorous, it does help one to take a realistic look at your work activities. The final chapter outlines what Mr. Adams calls a New Company Model. His conceptual model for a perfect company is called Out at Five (OA5). The suggestions seem obvious but not often implemented.

Overall this is a humorous and interesting book. Interestingly I was given a copy of this book when I was promoted to a engineering management position; were they trying to tell me something?!?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Overview:
This is a collection of comic strips geared toward the disgruntled office worker in all of us. A funny look at the modern working world, “The Dilbert Principle” is also filled with enough insight and truth to be more than useful, and ought to be read by managers everywhere. For non-managers, the book offers an understanding of why your company is screwed up and allows you a good laugh at your boss’s expense.