# What the Form is For By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-09-02 The ideal bureaucrat was once defined as a person who was smart enough to fill out the form but not so smart as to question why the form exists. There are different forms intelligence can take within organizations. At a minimum, there is functional intelligence and critical intelligence. Functional intelligence is about executing work (e.g., filling out the form). Critical intelligence is about examining power relationships (e.g., determining why the form exists). Organizations put a premium on functional intelligence. People scoring high on functional intelligence will be rewarded for their “can-do” attitude. Organizations do not value critical intelligence, even when it benefits them. People scoring high on critical intelligence are often marginalized for being “trouble makers.” More broadly, those with functional intelligence maintain the status quo. Those with critical intelligence point to possible improvements. Such a view is routinely dismissed until things are dire. If a company is failing, they might be desperate enough to listen to those with critical insights. Sometimes, these insights turn things around. Imagine how amazing an organization could be if it didn’t wait until a near failure to consider and implement the insights derived through critical thought. #### Related Items [[Intelligence]] [[Organization]] [[Insights]] [[Failure]] [[Work]]