On a recent business trip to the UK, I took the opportunity to go to Croatia and visit some family. I came across an interesting story relating to some of the country's problems in transitioning to a democracy. In the early 90's, Croatia broke off from the communist Yugoslavia to become its own country (again), and this time give western democracy a try.
Since then, they have been stuggling to lose their former ways - sounds like the old blinders over the eyes scenario we often see in product management.
During many interesting conversations with the locals, where I constantly questioned laws, processes and events in the country, it dawned on me they are stuck in the tale of two monkeys.
Here goes..
Two monkeys sitting in a zoo. Someone sets up a ladder with a banana on top. The first monkey goes up the ladder and just as he is about to get the banana, a water hose turns on and shoots him full of water.
The monkey runs away.
Soon after, the second monkey tries the same thing, and low and behold we find the same result.
Now, remove the first monkey and replace him. As the new monkey tries to climb the ladder, the last original monkey stops him and tells him; "don't go up the ladder you will get shot with water!".
Now swap out the original monkey with yet another new one, and the cycle repeats itself.
In the end, no matter how many monkeys you swap, they will never let anyone touch the banana for fear of getting hit with water - even though they've never actually seen the water.
How often do we come into a product or portfolio planning environment where old processes and procedures have been put in place that "cannot be changed"?
How often do we do things because it's the way we have been doing, or because it's worked before?
Product management and strategy should be run as a democracy. We should question authority, question choices in how or why we do things, and find a way to improve and change. It's inevitable to grow and change, so why not be on the leading edge of it rather than not.
So, watch out for monkeys telling you what not to do, and ask your boss for a banana!
The tale is becoming quite popular recently (here in Holland at least). But to my recollection it's not just a tale. I once read a piece from Herbert Simon (that's right: the Nobel laureate) describing an experiment conducted way back in the 1950's or 60's.
Two groups were trained to perform a simple task, but were organised quite differently. After a period of time people were exchanged between these groups. And again later on, one by one each time. Until both groups regained their original configuration.
The remarkable thing was that both groups maintained their organisational behaviour, notwithstanding that all people originated from the other group!
Who could help me out where Simon wrote this description or what experiment he exactly was referring to?
Hi Greald,
Thanks for the comments. Looks like you are right, this is not a story but a variation of some work by Herbert Simon as well as some other folks. Did a quick search and found a few interesting links for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chunking_(psychology)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Simon
http://www.origins.org/articles/dembski_alchemy.html
Enjoy!