Reverse Management Tips from CIA

For your edification and pleasure, I present the CIA Sabotage Field Manual from 1944. Section 5, in particular, lists suggestions for civilians working under Nazi occupation on how to harm the war effort. Some of them are devious, out right devilish, like forgetting to provide paper in toilets. Others unfortunately remind me too much of how we work today.

Especially, sub section 5.11, “General Interference with Organizations and Production.”I’m sure we can all relate, as some of these suggestions are uncomfortably reminiscent of colleagues and endless, pointless meetings. We’ve all seen dozen of LinkedIn posts about increasing organizational efficiency; I think we can treat this manual as a perfect guide on “what not to do.”

Here are some gems from sub section 5.11.a:

1- Insist on doing everything through “channels.” Never permit short-cuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions.

3- When possible, refer all matters to committees, for “further study and consideration.” Attempt to make the committees as large as possible — never less than five.

6- Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision.

7- Advocate “caution.” Be “reasonable” and urge your fellow-conferees to be “reasonable” and avoid haste which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.

8- Be worried about the propriety of any decisions — raise the question of whether such action as is contemplated lies within the jurisdiction of the group or whether it might conflict with the policy of some higher echelon.

Sub section 5.11.b regarding Managers:

7- Insist on perfect work in relatively unimportant products; send back for refinishing those which have the least flaw. Approve other defective parts whose flaws are not visible to the naked eye.

10- To lower morale and with it, production, be pleasant to inefficient workers; give them undeserved promotions. Discriminate against efficient workers; complain unjustly about their work.

11- Hold conferences when there is more, critical work to be done.

14- Apply all regulations to the last letter.

Having worked in some large organizations, I must say this sounds like another Tuesday to me. Some of these suggestions are so familiar, they almost sound like standard operating procedures.