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I assume the department head had other work to do besides approving requests if the number of requests are significant to the point that the department head can

I assume the department head had other work to do besides approving requests if the number of requests are significant to the point that the department head can't do any other work then the system still failed to bureaucracy. Either the higher ups are fine with department heads doing nothing but approve requests or they change the system.

jrochkind1 5y ago
Well, right. > Either the higher ups are fine with department heads doing nothing but approve requests or they change the system. First, you've never worked in academia have you? The "higher ups" (administration) really don't care at all about wasting department head time. Like, literally, zero care. But you've just provided a syllogism. Since they have not changed the system, clearly the relevant decision-makers are okay with it's time wasting, right? Or else, it would already be changed and nobody would have to do anything about it! If all it took was mentioning to somebody with the authority to change the system "Hey, you know this is taking up too much of my time, right?", I am confident the OP would have done that first. If that's all it took at most institutions, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.
- dangerface 5y ago
  > Since they have not changed the system, clearly the relevant decision-makers are okay with it's time wasting, right? That assumes that the relevant decision-makers are aware of the amount of time being wasted. If people are circumventing the bureaucracy to save time it would give them a false image of how much time was being wasted. > If all it took was mentioning to somebody with the authority to change the system "Hey, you know this is taking up too much of my time, right?", I am confident the OP would have done that first. If that's all it took at most institutions, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. When a change is implemented "this takes too much time" is a common complaint from those who don't like change (like me), the new system will always be slower until people get used to it. How much slower is the new system and is this a problem? Decision makers need to quantify this to make informed decisions not allow their decision making process be ruled by their or their employees sentiment.

jrochkind1 5y ago

Well, right. > Either the higher ups are fine with department heads doing nothing but approve requests or they change the system. First, you've never worked in academia have you? The "higher ups" (administration) really don't care at all about wasting department head time. Like, literally, zero care. But you've just provided a syllogism. Since they have not changed the system, clearly the relevant decision-makers are okay with it's time wasting, right? Or else, it would already be changed and nobody would have to do anything about it! If all it took was mentioning to somebody with the authority to change the system "Hey, you know this is taking up too much of my time, right?", I am confident the OP would have done that first. If that's all it took at most institutions, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

dangerface 5y ago
> Since they have not changed the system, clearly the relevant decision-makers are okay with it's time wasting, right? That assumes that the relevant decision-makers are aware of the amount of time being wasted. If people are circumventing the bureaucracy to save time it would give them a false image of how much time was being wasted. > If all it took was mentioning to somebody with the authority to change the system "Hey, you know this is taking up too much of my time, right?", I am confident the OP would have done that first. If that's all it took at most institutions, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. When a change is implemented "this takes too much time" is a common complaint from those who don't like change (like me), the new system will always be slower until people get used to it. How much slower is the new system and is this a problem? Decision makers need to quantify this to make informed decisions not allow their decision making process be ruled by their or their employees sentiment.