Systemic Distortions of Information

INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO HIGHER LEVELS IS FAVORABLY BIASED

MANAGEMENT DECISION ARE BASED ON INFORMATION FAVORABLE INFORMATION PASSED DOWN TO THE ORGANIZATION TO MID-LEVELS TENDS TO BE FAVORABLE

INFORM ATION PASSED UP TO HIGHER LEVELS IS "POLISHED" AND "SCREENED" TO BE INFORMATION AVAILABLE M ORE FAVORABLE TO MID-LEVELS IS FAVORABLY BIASED

RESOURCES TEND TO BE ALLOCATED TO TASKS AND PEOPLE THAT PRODUCE FAVORABLE INFORMATION UNFAVORABLE INFORMATION TENDS TO BE REJECTED OR SENT BACK

INFORMATION PASSED UP TO MID-LEVELS TENDS TO BE FAVORABLE

UNFAVORABLE SOURCES OF UNFAVORABLE INFORMATION IS OFTEN INFORM ATION TEND TO BE "FORGOTTEN" CONSIDERED AS "TROUBLE M AKERS"

SOURCES OF UNFAVORABLE INFORMATION TEND TO BE ISOLATED OR REOGANIZED OUT OF EXISTENCE Participant’s Responses to Investigative Questions.

Person in Questions Answers System Higher Level Why didn’t you consider the I’m not familiar with the information that Manager unfavorable information your you’re talking about. I can assure you that staff produced? my decisions were based on the best information available to me. Mid-Level Why didn’t you pass the I can’t pass everything up to them. Based on Manager unfavorable information up to the information available to me, it seems your superiors? appropriate to have this information reevaluated and checked over. Specialist Why wasn’t the unfavorable That wasn’t my job. I had other tasks to do information checked out and and deadlines to meet. sent back up to your superiors? “Troublemaker” Why didn’t you follow up on the I only worked on part of the project. I don’t information that you presented? know how my particular information was used after I turned it in. I did my job. Even if I had all the information, which I didn’t, there was no way that I could stop this project. Higher Level Why was the source of I hardly know the person. A lot of people Manager unfavorable information (the have worked on this project. I must, of troublemaker) removed from course, make decisions to keep this the project? organization running, but there has been no "plot" to suppress people! On the contrary, my decisions have been objectively based on the available information and the recommendations of my staff. Mid-Level Why was the source of I don't like your implications! I've got tasks to Manager unfavorable information complete and dead-lines to meet with limited removed from the project? resources. I can't let everybody do "their own thing"; we'd never finish anything. I base my recommendations and assignments on the best available information! Specialist Why was the source of I'm not sure about the details because I don't unfavorable information (the work with him. I guess that it had something troublemaker) removed from to do with a reorganization or a new the project? assignment. He is a bright person, somewhat of an eccentric, but I've got nothing personal against him. “Troublemaker” Why were you removed from My assignment was completed and I was the project? assigned to another project. I don't think that anybody was deliberately out to get me. My new job is less of a hassle.