At 12:19 PM 3/7/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Date: Sun, 07 Mar 1999 12:01:16 -0500
>From: "Harold Feld" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Proliferation of titles
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>First, let me say that ICANN is to be credited
>for its actions on the DNSO front. While I may not
>ultimately agree with the position taken, it is reassuring
>that the board appears to have actually thought about
>what they were doing and to try to reach some kind of
>compromise. A positive step.
I agree.
>OTOH, there is an increasing title level of use going
>on here that is on the one hand absurd and on the other
>hand troubling. It is the use of titles of people working with
>ICANN and the ever increasing references to "staff" making
>recommendations and formulating positions.
Hello Harold,
When someone asks their staff do something, then what do you call it? Do
you suggest that the person take personal credit for the actual work, even
though they haven't executed it themselves? I often ask "staff" to do
things for me. They do it. I don't at all consider it pretentious to
mention the fact, by way of thanks.
>The reason it is absurd is that, given the nature of ICANN
>and its history, this seems quite pretentious. I simply
>must raise a quizical eyebrow when Molly Shaffer Van Houweling receives
>about three different titles over the course of a year, now culminating in
>"senior advisor" (I personally want "Lord High Grand Poobah" or "Delegate
>of the Lawyers Who Say NI!").
Titles are a very real part of defining Roles and Responsibilities (R&R)
within an organization. Psychologically, they are necessary. Not all can
be, or even want to be, chiefs. OTOH, there are some who will settle for
nothing less. The change in titles indicates that either the leadership
hasn't take responsibility for this, or they are indecisive. Both are a bad
sign.
>What is disturbing, however, is the way ICANN is constantly shaping itself
>as administrative agency. The use of "staff" to create policy
>recommendations and process information, the designation of everyone by
>title, with a title denoting hierarchial status, are all reflections of
>agency structure and mentality.
>
>When Apple first formed, the board and managers treated titles as a joke.
>People went around with business cards saying things like "Wizard Behind
>the Curtain" and "Software Ghod". As the organization ossified (and become
>less effective), it started insisting that its employees act
>"professionally." Real titles, connoting real things, came in. With this
There are a lot of ways that Apple was in denial, in the early days, that
they were a real organization. It hurt them. In many ways it was at Job's
insistence, so he could fuel his own agenda secretly. R&R are required to
keep the political turmoil under control in any group with more than a few
tens of members.
___________________________________________________
Roeland M.J. Meyer -
e-mail: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Internet phone: hawk.lvrmr.mhsc.com
Personal web pages: http://staff.mhsc.com/~rmeyer
Company web-site: http://www.mhsc.com
___________________________________________________
KISS ... gotta love it!
