Here's an interesting story of an experiment done to analyse the process of behavioural conditioning in a group. The charecters are monkeys, but the experiment reveals in a humorous manner how people get conditioned in organisations!
The monkey tale is as follows:
Eight monkeys were put in a room. In the middle of the room was a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Each time a monkey tried to climb the ladder; all the monkeys were sprayed with ice water, which made them miserable.
Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempted to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up.
Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder. One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room.
Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious, but, undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the ladder. All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly.
He has no idea why. However, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder.
A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again
attempts to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammer the hell out of him. This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he's not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he's attacking the new monkey.
One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the room. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempts to climb the ladder.
All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without
having any idea why.
AND THAT'S HOW ANY COMPANY'S POLICIES/PROCESS GETS ESTABLISHED!
The monkey tale is as follows:
Eight monkeys were put in a room. In the middle of the room was a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Each time a monkey tried to climb the ladder; all the monkeys were sprayed with ice water, which made them miserable.
Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempted to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up.
Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder. One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room.
Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious, but, undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the ladder. All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly.
He has no idea why. However, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder.
A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again
attempts to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammer the hell out of him. This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he's not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he's attacking the new monkey.
One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the room. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempts to climb the ladder.
All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without
having any idea why.
AND THAT'S HOW ANY COMPANY'S POLICIES/PROCESS GETS ESTABLISHED!