有人的地方就有江湖 | Another typical office story |

今天听到一个段子。发生在一家公司里的真事：

该公司目前花了很多的成本在推动一个新系统。所以想做个对超级用户访问的视频，接此进一步推动全体人员对新系统的接受和认可。由于系统还处于雏形，尚有很多的问题。所以被各部门的认可度很低。特别是他们所选的这个将被访谈的超级用户，她本身非常憎恨该系统。项目主导人给她看了访问时要问的问题以及希望她的回答预稿。所给出的答案和她自己真正所想的南辕北辙。所以这位超级用户不希望接受这个任务。因此她诉求她老板的支持希望能够推掉此任务。但同时她也毫不忌讳地和同事述说她的无奈。

暂时不谈后续的事态如何发展。当我听到此段子的时候，我就觉得很不可思议。首先，为什么一定要选一个对此系统排斥的人来录视频？其次，既然是为了得到用户的真实回馈，为什么要帮她预设答案？任何新的项目刚开始的时候都会得到不同的声音，这时候不是应该鼓励各种回馈，那样哪怕无法马上做出改进，至少可以在后续版本中考虑才是。为什么一定要制造一种太平声合的景象让人觉得此系统是完美无比，满足各部门的需求？最后也应该考虑到被采访者自己的感受。想想如果你被逼着说一些违背自己想法的话，而这些话将被在公司全面播出，你自己的感受会是如何？这也难怪她会到处跟人在抱怨了。相信这样作出的损坏比好处多得多。

可惜在各个公司就是有那些急功近利的人，为了突出自己的表现，追求短期的认可，在没有把整个任务和项目执行细节想透之前就把自己的想法强加在别人身上，那样哪怕别人惧于命令违背己愿完成了拍摄，你觉得她就会闭上嘴巴不再发言了吗？故事已经开始传播，不可能停下来。最后，可能在高层那里是交了差，而且公司也有视频可以对外发布，可是从底层来说到底赢得了什么？

遗憾的是，这样的事其实不是偶然，在很多公司都以不同的形式出现。这甚至是一些人借以步步高升的一种手段。奈何，公司政治和手段永远不绝，有人的地方就有江湖，你又能奈何？

I heard a real story today. It’s happening in a company.

The company has been investing significant budget on a new edge-cutting system. They believe implementation of the new system can superior them from their competitors and eventually save company significant money. They plan to make a video of project leader interviewing a super user of the system to further promote the system in and out of the company. However, the system is still at early stage and has many issues yet to fix. It’s not yet fully blessed by each function team. The super user herself is among those whom holds negative thoughts. To help her prepare for the interview, they gave her all the questions and answers they want her to say upfront. She didn’t like the idea esp when her real thoughts are quite different. She’s hoping that with help from her boss she’s able to decline the request. At the meanwhile, she shares what is happening to her colleagues.

Let’s forget about how the thing’s going to evolve. When I heard about this story, I was pretty surprised. First of all, why would the project leader want to pick someone who’s so against the system and vocal about it to take on the task? Secondly, if they really want to get honest and candid feedback from users, why would they want to pre-arrange the answers? Wouldn’t it be better to collect and hear all different kinds of voices and feedback? Even though they may not be able to improve right away, at least shows people that they hear it and will look into it in 2.0? Is it really better to create a fake phenomenon of perfect world? Lastly where did the respect go? How about feeling of the interviewee? Think of yourself being forced to say something that’s totally against your will publicly? How would you feel? I won’t blame her for being vocal about it. And I also believe the damage could be more.

Unfortunately in every field of industry there are always people whom focus on short interest of themselves than seeing a whole picture. They didn’t think it through when they tried to implement the initiatives. Imposing thoughts and putting words into someone else’s mouth is not the right thing to do. Maybe at the end the super user may follow instruction to complete the filming, but will she keep quiet after that? The words have started, and will continue to go on… Even though the mission may be accomplished, boss is happy and video’s ready to launch, but what has gained at the bottom fundamental level?

What a shame that the odd is not rare. Similar situation happens every day in every company in different forms. Some people take fully advantage of it to advance their career. Corporate politics won’t stop wherever there is human. What can do you about it?

photo credit: bing.com