A documentary based on the article "The Abilene Paradox: The Management of Agreement" by Jerry B. Harvey. Film directed by Peter J. Jordan. G. William Jones Film and Video Collection
I played Sue, the young bride. It's so fun to come across this after all these years! I just turned 60 and I now act under the name Sheri Mann Stewart (vs. Sheri Lyn Stewart back then).
Grew up halfway between Coleman and Abilene, this is gold and so accurate if you know about Taylor county, I can only imagine the cafeteria they went to is Furr’s
My parents called it "Furr's" to avoid confusion about it not being "Luby's", but my grandparents called it "The Cafeteria" so you're probably right. They were about the age of the author's in-laws in the context of the story's timeline and grew up north of Abilene in Stamford. Similar trip length. Opposite direction. (If they had gone to Underwood's they would have been a lot happier)
I saw this video in 2000 when I was taking a leadership training course in the Navy. I was in Virginia at the time and was telling everyone in my class that Abilene was my hometown and that I grew up on the very road between Coleman and Abilene that was shown in this video. Lol
Dr. Harvey recounted this tale during his presentation to us in 2001 at the Federal Executive Institute. Dr. Harvey's message on managing agreement and managing/leading organizational dynamics were guiding principals for the remainder of my career. Dr. Harvey passed in 2015, a great loss.
I saw this video in my social psychology class in college in 2004. The acting isn't great, but I learned a lot from the video and never forgot it. Still I wonder: If Dr. Harvey knew the couple didn't want to get married, why didn't he speak up when the minister said, " . . . speak now or forever hold your peace"?
I remember going to a concert at the arena with some friends. All of us pretended we had a really good time until after the show we found out none of us knew anything about the band and wouldn't otherwise have ever paid money to see them. It started when someone mentioned they met a band member who was really nice - and that turned into a conversation that lead us all to assume everyone else was really into them. So we went each excited for the other.
@@coimbralaw The abiline paradox suggests that misunderstood agreement breeds resentment and often resolves with a scapegoat being hurt most. In the USA, daylight savings time is a confusing time for families, churches, and businesses. I have never met anyone who thinks that daylight savings time is a good idea. Arizona doesn't adhere to it, and they do fine. It seems to @ThePeterDislikeShow and myself that US citizens misunderstand the agreement that "daylight savings time is a good idea", when in actuality, no-one believes it is. This is an example of the Abiline Paradox in action. Hope that helps!
I remember this video from my former employer, it was mandatory training. The video really made you think on how you deal with these types of situations. Also, gave me the voice to speak up! Someone mentioned to me they were going to Abilene TX and this video popped into my head. I am now requiring my staff to view this video and provide me with feedback.
This is one of my favorite leadership videos as there is so much truth in how things happen and the true power of speaking up to make the workplace better
I was looking for fun things to do in Abilene and stumbled into a lecture on management. I found it interesting, but suddenly don't want to move to Abilene
Last night I was at a wedding and have a road trip ahead. There was an actual situation at the reception that I said yes to that I wasn't comfortable with. Then I thought of this video and I thought I have to say no. I feel a lot better about it now it turns out everyone else also wanted to say no too 😂
I first saw this video in a DAU course for project management, about 20 years ago. Totally resonated. It's as relevant then as it is now. I have used this example all the time in many of my programs. It really works. Many teams run as hard as they can toward an objective nobody wants to get to. Stop them early and redirect the team.
What a great little film; several brilliant comic touches far beyond the call of duty, and I love when actors do a "I'm saying this but I don't mean it" face. Harvey comes across as an autistic superhero, able to express nonconformity.
I really dont think this is a genuine paradox. I think everyone here is guilty of the paradox to begin with by commenting that the premise of this is a paradox to begin with! I call this the Wm Murphy paradox.
The lecture by Harvy has been one of my favorite "inspirational" works of managerial art since first seeing in the late 1970s a video he made. Thanks for keeping alive. It is a classic that too few people know about. I found this link, because my church and a school need it RIGHT now!
Resisting an Abilene paradox situation can have consequences. I can think of two examples where I prevented one. Both times there was one person who actually wanted to do it and originated the idea. The social/professional pressure can be to seem high effort and not sound selfish. Once I was leading a weeklong college outdoor trip before the start of student’s freshman year. After a week of backpacking and canoeing we were camping the last night in a forest near the university. My co-leader declared that she wanted to do a few more hours of ropes course/team building work. I wandered off and asked some of the 10 or so participants hanging out. They had zero interest and wished to relax, talk and build a fire. I told my co-leader that I didn’t feel like it was a good idea. Ice breaking activities were for the start. She accused me of being self-centered. She said the group had not gelled properly. In truth the group was as formed as the group would ever become, and she did just not vibe with them. They came from diverse backgrounds and all had not done anything outdoorsy before ever.
He is at fault for suggesting the trip and everyone else is also at fault because they were dishonest. Honesty should be valued more than one's ego if this paradox is to be avoided.
