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The Abilene Paradox Summary

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The Abilene Paradox was coined by Jerry B. Harvey, Professor Emeritus of Management at the George Washington University and author of “The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management”. The Abilene Paradox is simple and it’s explained using a parable of a family of four (parents and their daughter with her husband) in Texas who are sitting around, content, playing checkers. When the father asks who wants to go to Abilene for dinner everyone eventually agrees. Even though, they all know the hour long ride will be miserable and the food won’t be worth it. Upon returning from the uncomfortable trip, everyone begins to argue. The wife never wanted to go but agreed to because she thought the father wanted to. The daughter and her husband …show more content…

In organizations, this manifests quite frequently in projects that no one takes responsibility for and are doomed from the start, but somehow they achieve to get the green light. It’s a paradox because it happens when people try and be nice to each other. It begins when someone among a group of people suggests a course of action based on what they think that someone else wants to do, that person does not want to appear rude at the consideration that has been offered so does not say no, even though they would rather not do it. Everyone else falls into line to keep the peace and a course of action is set that no one actually …show more content…

By adopting this approach you may challenge your own limitations as a business owner or CEO. It will require you to take into consideration everyone you work with: the employees, the suppliers, the customers and the partners. This means that you must be willing to state your objectives clearly to these people, to give them the opportunity to understand where you are trying to get to and why. They must feel free to voice any concerns or doubts they hold and a mature conversation then should take place, so that you as the CEO can decide which route you want to

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