January 7, 2007

More English Efficiency

I am reminded of this quote from a post a few days ago:
“(person's name) moral and emotional distortions were characteristic of an intellectual trying to force people into a structure of ideas, rather than allowing ideas to flow naturally from the way people actually behaved.”
Change the person's name to English Efficiency Experts and you have this from This is London:
£7million spent on consultants who advise civil servants to put 'black tape on desks'
Black tape has been put on the desks of civil servants to show them where to put their pens as part of a £7m Government 'efficiency' drive.

It is the latest idea from consultants being paid to come up with so-called innovative ideas to improve the working environment of public sector staff.

The tape is also used to mark out exactly where the computer keyboard should be placed, as well telephones. Previous novel thinking by the consultants included a desk ban on family photographs - along with any 'inactive fruit'.

Staff representatives described the idea, which is being piloted by hundreds of staff who process National Insurance payments, as 'madness'. They point out that shift workers share desks - so must repeatedly adjust the black tape, depending on the length of their arms.

But Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs - which is paying consultants 7.4m for so-called Lean programme - said the tape would help to keep desks clear of clutter. Officials said it is 'much better to work in a tidy work environment where everything has its place'.
Only (hopefully) in Jolly Olde England... If they tried that bullshit over here in the colonies, there would be an immediate revolt... People work more efficiently when they are comfortable. A perfect example of the quote: "an intellectual trying to force people into a structure of ideas, rather than allowing ideas to flow naturally from the way people actually behaved" Posted by DaveH at January 7, 2007 12:51 PM
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