Friday, September 07, 2007

Pyramids & Quadrants

Like all animals, we, Homo Corpratuses (Man The Corporate Offices Dweller) have our tools. We chose the Pyramids & Quadrants. We became so proficient in using them that no single meeting, presentation, document or training can be a proper one without the right mix of pyramids & quadrants. Take pyramids for example, they can represent any of the following: a 3-pillared strategy, a 3-pillared strategy with one objective (that's put inside), 3-pillared strategy with 3 goals (each put on the side) or my all-time favorite: the n-layer pyramid-pie; where n>=2. The n-layer pyramid-pie is usually used to spell out the priorities rising from the least (at the base) to the most important (at the top).

What we've done with pyramids is nothing compared to our systematic abuse of the quadrants. You name it: Time Management, Energy Management, Priority Management and even Vendor Management, they all have 4 quadrants. We use quadrants so much that quadrant-reading has become a natural instinct for us. Now we instinctively seek the One quadrant of them all. The One quadrant that rules them all. The Holy Upper Right Quadrant.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

yeahhhhh. And the funny thing is when u have like 7 things and they still fit on a pyramid

Fesh said...

yeah, they are coming up with creative ways to stuff that pyramid even more all the time :D

Embee said...

Now I'm reminded, yet again, why I quit the corporates without a single glance back ! :)

Fesh said...

So how do you do that? I mean does it involve any kind of Red pill/Blue pill kind of thing? Any chance of some 8 inch needles being pulled out of your skull before you're "out"?

Embee said...

It's funny how you mention the upper right quadrant. I had to explain that to a class of late 30's to early 50's men. Think your typical Egyptian government employee with a laptop he's been given but has no clue how to use.

Getting out involved showing my manager , the MD, the ropes; cost me 5 precious unpaid days and emails seeking advice (9 months and counting). It also involved signing a waiver not to work in the field for 3 years as of contract termination date. Oh and a major major celebration that involved people flying in to elCairo and has been video taped and posted for a couple of hours on youtube but had to be taken down to protect the marital life of the attendees !

Fesh said...

WOW...okkkkkay, well when I go 'out' I must do this routine (adpated from a lot of old Arabic movies).I have a piece of paper (can be an empty one), kick the door of the pointy-hair boss and slam the paper on the desk and look him in the eye and say: estekalty.

.....and then a kick-ass partAy like the one you describe...aaaahhhhhh...one day!