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When possible, tie it back to company strategy or objectives (“it’s important for us to sit closer to our stakeholders”, or “this layout will improve our carbon

When possible, tie it back to company strategy or objectives (“it’s important for us to sit closer to our stakeholders”, or “this layout will improve our carbon footprint”). These feel exactly like the kind of BS VP rearrangement you're mentioning. Moving desks improves our carbon footprint? What kind of coolaid do they drink and how am I supposed to control my urge to just burst out in loud laughter if my boss tells me that as a reason?

486sx33 3y ago
How dare you question the impact on carbon footprint? Are you some kind of fossil fuel drinking cowboy?
Talanes 3y ago
I honestly believe the primary driver of organizational dysfunction is management's tendency to find justifications for things rather than actually understanding what they're doing and if it's necessary.
- floydnoel 3y ago
  i imagine they think it's necessary in order for them to maintain power dynamic, but they aren't willing to convey that message. so they contrive creative "cover stories."
lmm 3y ago
> Moving desks improves our carbon footprint? If it's "we're moving everyone downstairs so we can turn off the heating on the 6th floor" then it does. But yeah, even in that case it's better to skip the bullshit; if you've laid off a bunch of people and you're packing the people who are left into a smaller space to save money, if you tell them that, they'll understand.
- tharkun__ 3y ago
  The trick would we to move everyone from the first floor to the 6th, rent out the first floor and let them pay for "their" heating bill, knowing warm air goes up ;) That would be a great explanation. Doesn't do squat for the carbon footprint either way tho.
  - lmm 3y ago
    > Doesn't do squat for the carbon footprint either way tho. Yeah it does. Heating two half-empty floors will generally have a higher carbon footprint than one full floor one way or another, and especially if you then rent out the other floor you're saving a bunch of emissions (particularly given how much it takes to build new buildings). The company doesn't actually care about the carbon footprint, of course, which is why it's a bullshit excuse, but it does have that positive effect.

486sx33 3y ago

How dare you question the impact on carbon footprint? Are you some kind of fossil fuel drinking cowboy?

Talanes 3y ago

I honestly believe the primary driver of organizational dysfunction is management's tendency to find justifications for things rather than actually understanding what they're doing and if it's necessary.

floydnoel 3y ago
i imagine they think it's necessary in order for them to maintain power dynamic, but they aren't willing to convey that message. so they contrive creative "cover stories."

lmm 3y ago

> Moving desks improves our carbon footprint? If it's "we're moving everyone downstairs so we can turn off the heating on the 6th floor" then it does. But yeah, even in that case it's better to skip the bullshit; if you've laid off a bunch of people and you're packing the people who are left into a smaller space to save money, if you tell them that, they'll understand.

tharkun__ 3y ago
The trick would we to move everyone from the first floor to the 6th, rent out the first floor and let them pay for "their" heating bill, knowing warm air goes up ;) That would be a great explanation. Doesn't do squat for the carbon footprint either way tho.
- lmm 3y ago
  > Doesn't do squat for the carbon footprint either way tho. Yeah it does. Heating two half-empty floors will generally have a higher carbon footprint than one full floor one way or another, and especially if you then rent out the other floor you're saving a bunch of emissions (particularly given how much it takes to build new buildings). The company doesn't actually care about the carbon footprint, of course, which is why it's a bullshit excuse, but it does have that positive effect.