Call in the Fire Investigators

Published: Mar 31, 2004

Application

We are relating fires to crises, as in the common reference to "fire-fighting" used by managers doing crisis management.

Real arson investigators photograph the spectators to a suspicious fire because experience (modus operandi) indicates an arsonist often remains to enjoy his/her handiwork. Likewise, a person who boasts of excelling at solving crises could be a suspect for being the kind of person who goes about gaining praise for putting out fires that had been set by him/herself.

Do you have an "arsonist" in your midst?

Stories

CSI in the workplace

I was recruited as a department manager to improve the operation of a division divided into two departments.

The other department manager, who had worked with the division head for many years in another organization, was continually being praised for his ability to solve the numerous crises we were experiencing. Both boasted of his being a great fire-fighter. I could smell the smoke but I wasn't sure about the origin of the blazes. Also, people in his department were frequently asking me where he was.

Early one day, and following a short discussion with the other manager, I followed him. It was an ingenious trail that ended at a local pub. Later, in the day when I knew he was preoccupied I went in that pub seeking him. The bartender suggested I wait as he described, in great detail, what a frequent customer he was each day.

Lacking photos and logs, I decided to confront the other manager in the presence of the division head. I asked them what they were going to do about it. It was a complete surprise to the division head when he concluded his longtime friend was an alcoholic who had been deceiving him for years.

The manager's resignation resulted in only a few crises to solve thereafter.

Submitted by: NephewGerry

Outcomes

Discovering where there's smoke - there's fire.
Improving your fire-fighting skills.
Recognizing crises are symptoms.
Finding time management problems may be the result of sabotage.
Realizing that problems can be cleverly disguised.

Call in the Fire Investigators

Application

Stories

CSI in the workplace

Outcomes

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