# Examine the Structure By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-10-06 An adage says something like the following: when one person fails, look at the person; when three people fail, look at the structure. When it comes to management, enough people have failed to look at the structure rather than the person. Of course, there are “bad” managers. And, of course, there are “good” managers. That isn’t the point. The point is that the management structure tends to produce negative existential results. It would be interesting to determine what percentage of managers would report being fulfilled. Based on observation, the percentage would be relatively low. Further, it would be equally revealing to determine what percentage of workers feel their managers add value to their work. The focus of the content of management is purposively misdirected. When management is taught, it is presented as if the focus of management is on directing the work of those under one’s authority. This isn’t the primary focus. The primary focus of management is on pleasing one’s superiors. Managing the work of one’s department is incidental to that focus and is only important insofar as it happens to be the focus of those in power. Why does the structure of management fail time and again? Because pleasing those in power has little to do with executing meaningful and fulfilling work. Management is the perpetual act of placating one’s superiors while coercing subordinates. The structure, not the people, makes it so intolerable. #### Related Items [[Management]] [[Structure]] [[Organization]] [[Power]] [[Asymmetry]] [[Education]] [[Failure]]