How to Make Things Go Right – The Peter Prescription – Book Review

HOW TO MAKE THINGS GO RIGHT 

Prescriptions on How To Be Creative Confident and Competent 

THE PETER PRESCRIPTION

Book Review 

By 

VIKRAM KARVE

 

Title: The Peter Prescription

Author: Dr. Laurence J. Peter

Published: 1972 (William Morrow)  

 

A Blissful Retired Life gives me the golden opportunity to dust off my favourite books from my bookshelves – sit in the warm morning sun and re-read these lovely books sipping a hot cup of refreshing tea to warm my insides and stimulate my brain.

 

I have realized that re-reading good books gives me even greater pleasure.

So that’s what I am going to do for the next few days – browse my bookshelves – re-read some of my favourite books – and tell you about them.

 

During my college days – in the 1970’s – when I was studying for my B. Tech. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering – I read three non-fiction and non-technical books which had a lasting impact on me.

The first was Parkinson’s Law (written in 1958) by Cyril Northcote Parkinson based on the author’s study of the British Civil Service and the Admiralty.

The other two books were written by Dr. Laurence J. Peter – The Peter Principle (1969) and The Peter Prescription (1972).

These 3 Management Classics greatly influenced my way of looking at life in general and Human Resource (HR) Management issues in particular – sometimes with a sense of humor – and I feel that these three books are a must for the bookshelves of every Manager.

 

Written with incisive wit – Parkinson’s Law is a seminal book on the workings of bureaucracy which is essential reading for any student of Management. 

It is consummate management classic – a masterpiece – which is a “must read” for every manager and management student.

 

The Peter Principle – a delightful read – provides a superb insight and intriguing study of hierarchiology.

Let me state in brief the Peter Principle:

In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence 

and its corollary:

In time – every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent

If The Peter Principle is Dr. Peter’s seminal pioneering work – then The Peter Prescription is his definitive book – a wonderful all-time management classic.

 

If you have not read ‘The Peter Principle’ – do read my review of the book – the previous post in my blog (url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/07/why-things-always-go-wrong-peter.html )

 

Understanding ‘The Peter Principle’ is sine qua non – essential prerequisite reading – before you embark upon ‘The Peter Prescription’.

 

Whereas both Parkinson’s Law and The Peter Principle formulate and substantiate their respective theories – The Peter Prescription is a philosophical self-help treatise on how to achieve happiness in all aspects of life.

Written in his unique hilarious inimitable style – Dr. Peter exhorts us to be creative, confident and competent – by replacing mindless escalation with life-quality improvement. 

The message of the book is in congruence with Eastern (Oriental) Philosophies – which focus on inward enhancement – rather than – outward escalation.

 

In his introduction Dr. Peter states: 

“Many authors offer answers before they understand the questions…….. I understand the operation of the Peter Principle, and the remedies offered are the product of years of research……… prescriptions will lead to great personal fulfillment and joy of real accomplishment.”

 

The book – interspersed liberally with quotations and case studies – comprises three parts.

The first part – titled Incompetence Treadmill – explores why conventional solutions not only fail to alleviate the effects of the Peter Principle but explains why these conventional techniques may actually serve to escalate the problems.

His analysis of ‘marital incompetence’ is hilarious.  
“A bachelor is a man who looks before he leaps – and then does not leap...” Dr. Peter concludes.

With the flattening of hierarchies – I wonder whether – in today's world – there still exist any Professional Processionary Puppets – the “organization-men”.

It would be worthwhile to look dispassionately – from a distance – into your own organization for similarities to prototypes adorning bureaucracies of yesteryear – in order to ascertain whether your own organisation is a modern state-of-the-art progressive one – or whether your organisation is a rigid hierarchy bound archaic organization heading for decay.

 

The meat of the book is in Part Two – titled ‘Protect your Competence’ – which elucidate a total of 25 “prescriptions” on how to remain creative and competent throughout your working and personal life. 

There are two things to aim at in life:
 
First – to get what you want

Second – after you get what you want – to enjoy it

The prescriptions – which are condensed wisdom of the ages – from ancient to modern – guide us on how to achieve this cardinal aim of life. 

“The greatest happiness you can have is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness...” Dr. Peter quotes with elan in this delightful book.

 

Competence is a system-governed factor 

Your competence is as viewed by your bosses.

Like beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder – your competence lies in the eyes of your boss... 

And thus – the yardsticks of competence are governed by the HR policies in your organization.

 

Why is everyone around you so competitive...?

Do the HR policies in your organization encourage competition, rat-race and reward escalationary behaviour – and if so – what can you do about it...?

Maybe you can find some answers by exploring the prescriptions.

 

Let’s have a look at Peter Prescription 3 – The Peter Panorama – which I have used to great effect.

This comprises listing your satisfying activities, joyful experiences, pleasant reminiscences – and after introspection – making a second list of those which are feasible to do regularly – and then make sure you do these satisfying activities whenever feasible.

Enjoyable events begin to crowd out the unpleasant – and – you feel happy. 

And – in the extreme – there are prescriptions like “utter irrelevance”– hilariously effective.

 

Do read – experiment – and try to imbibe the prescriptions in your professional and personal life, and experience the results for yourself.

Introspect – evolve a philosophy of life – fine tune the art of living – concentrate your efforts within your area of competence – and have an improved quality of life consisting of abiding competence and contentment.

If you cannot be happy here and now – you can never be happy.

 

Part Three of the book is written from the management perspective – giving 42 “prescriptions” to Managers to contain and mitigate the effects of “The Peter Principle” in their domains and manage for competence. 

It views The Peter Principle from the viewpoint of a Human Resource Manager – and assuming the manager himself is not a victim of the Peter Principle and reached his or her level of incompetence – it offers valuable tips in the HR Management – particularly recruitment, promotion and selection.

 

Obviously – outsourcing wasn’t that prevalent way back then in the 1960’s and 1970’s – otherwise organizations may even have ‘outsourced’ incompetence. 

Isn’t it a brilliant idea to outsource incompetence...? 

Maybe some are doing it already...!

 

As stated in the introduction – the purpose of The Peter Prescription is to help you explore how you yourself can mitigate the effects of The Peter Principle by avoiding the final placement syndrome – and – as a manager – it tells you how to keep your employees at their appropriate competence levels so that they remain happy and productive – and help achieve mutual optimal benefit.

 

Dear Reader: First read and understand The Peter Principle

Then – to your own life – apply The Peter Prescription – and experience genuine personal fulfillment and joy of real accomplishment. 

Reading these two Books (The Peter Principle and The Peter Prescription) will enhance your plane of living.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
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This is an updated version of my book review of THE PETER PRESCRIPTION written more than 30 years ago in 1986 and various versions posted online earlier at urls: http://creative.sulekha.com/book-review-the-peter-prescription-the-peter-principle-by-vikram-karve_169356_blog and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/07/how-to-remain-creative-and-competent.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/02/peter-prescription-book-review.html  etc

Humor in Uniform – The Law of Triviality

HUMOR IN UNIFORM

THE LAW OF TRIVIALITY

Musings of a Navy Veteran

A Spoof

By

VIKRAM KARVE

“COSMETIC” CHANGES

Early this year – sometime in January 2015 – I was invited to deliver a “guest lecture” at a prestigious inter-service training institution.

I was delighted to meet a Commodore – who I had served with earlier in the Navy – and who was once a student of mine at this very same institution more than 30 years ago in the mid 1980’s.

He was wearing blue combat uniform (No. 10) – instead of the customary navy whites (Uniform No. 8/8A) – which we normally wore at this institution.

This was quite strange – since the place was an academic training institution –which was far removed from combat.

Probably – the only “combat” out there were the internecine “turf wars” between the 3 wings of the defence services and “ego battles” between senior officers.

What was even more startling – was the jarring golden star on the Commodore’s collar.

I had never seen commissioned Naval Officers wear insignia on their collars like the gaudy collar tabs (or “collar dogs”) the Commodore was wearing on his shirt collar.

(Earlier – till the late 1970’s – Master Chief Petty Officers wore collar insignia which were subsequently changed to shoulder tabs)

I was – therefore – quite surprised to see a most flashy oversized golden collar tab which looked totally incongruous on Navy Uniform.

In fact – this ostentatious golden collar star looked most ridiculous and gaudy on blue combat uniform.

When I asked the Commodore about this new piece of jazzy collar accoutrement – he said that golden collar stars for Commodores and Admirals had been recently introduced on the First of January 2015.

I was happy to note that the LAW OF TRIVIALITY was still very much in action in the Defence Services.

Instead of tackling the Urgent and Important Complex Operational Problems, Equipment Obsolescence and Human Resource Issues faced by the Defence Services – the Military “Top Brass” focusing on “Fashion Design” and were devoting their energies to Trivial Issues like Embellishing, Decorating and adding “Colour” to Military Uniforms with all types of decorative “insignia” “stars” “badges” “tabs” “emblems” and gaudy colourful accoutrements to show off their ranks – just like “peacocks” show off their plumage.

(If you have been following the news – you will know that there is a great obsession with “stars” in the Army – with Generals displaying their “stars” at the most imaginative places – and it looks like this “star virus” has affected the Navy too).

Since independence – if anything has changed the maximum in the defence services – it is military uniforms.

Yes – the “ornamental” and showy uniforms the Armed Forces and Police wear today bear little resemblance to the simple Soldierly Military Uniforms of the 1950’s.

This increasing penchant for frequently changing uniforms and enhancing ornamentation of military regalia (by introducing new badges/accoutrements/adornments etc) bears testimony to the fact that “The Law of Triviality” is proliferating in the Armed Forces.

LAW OF TRIVIALITY

I am sure you have read a book called  PARKINSON’S LAW  and are familiar with Parkinson’s First Law:

“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion”

This law had its genesis in an analytical study of the Admiralty and most of us have seen this law in operation in the military and civilian bureaucracy.

Parkinson’s First Law comprises Chapter 1 of this book.

As you read on, in Chapter 6 titled HIGH FINANCE – you will find another interesting law: THE LAW OF TRIVIALITY

The author describes the goings on in a finance committee meeting.

An atomic reactor costing 10 million pounds is cleared without much discussion because most of the committee members are clueless about the intricacies of an atomic reactor.

A proposal for a bicycle shed costing 350 pounds is hotly debated for more than an hour and finally not approved as members feel the estimate is too costly.

This is because everyone can visualize a bicycle shed – everyone has some idea about construction costs of a simple bicycle shed – and the paltry sum of 350 pounds is within everybody’s comprehension.

LAW OF TRIVIALITY IN UNIFORM

Haven’t we seen similar things happening in uniform – both at the macro and at the micro levels?

A sophisticated expensive weapon system or an extravagant technology project costing hundreds of crores of rupees is sanctioned quickly without much debate because the “powers-that-be” comprising politicians, bureaucrats and “non-technical” generalist senior officers are quite clueless about state-of-the-art technologies.

On the other hand – a comparatively trivial expenditure like a small monetary allowance to soldiers or granting of “one rank one pension” (OROP) to ex-servicemen is acrimoniously debated and discussed ad nauseum – and in all probability – the “generalists” and “powers-that-be” are reluctant to sanction this comparatively trivial expenditure because they can clearly understand and comprehend the simple proposal.

In the first section above – I gave you the example of frequent trivial cosmetic changes in military uniforms and ceremonials which are totally unnecessary – since these cosmetic changes in uniforms and ceremonials do not enhance operational capability or improve combat efficiency in any way.

In the Armed Forces – this “law of triviality” can be observed at the micro level too.

Take the example of Officers Mess General Body Meetings.

The all-important financial balance sheet is passed without much discussion.

I remember an instance where a junior officer asked some uncomfortable questions about large expenditures shown in the balance sheet.

He was curtly told to shut up and sit down by the PMC – who admonished the junior officer: “The Balance Sheet has been audited by a Chartered Accountant (CA), You are a piddly Lieutenant – and that too from from NDA. Do you know more about accounting and finance than a bloody CA...?”

Important issues are disposed off quickly without any discussion – since most senior officers are quite clueless on these subjects.

On the other hand – trivial items of expenditure like increasing daily messing charges – enhancing party shares – purchase of crockery, glassware and flowerpots – which newspapers and magazines to buy for the library – nominal increase in honorarium to mess employees – these are hotly debated issues – since everyone is a “know-it-all” on these matters.

I remember once that many hours were spent in heated debate on which flower-pots to buy for the officers mess – but items worth lakhs of rupees were approved without a murmur.

If you have served in the armed forces or civil services – I am sure you have seen the Law of Triviality operating everywhere.

In personal life too – we gullibly buy a house costing crores of rupees – or purchase expensive jewellery and electronic items costing lakhs of rupees without due diligence – spend huge amounts of money on ostentatious events like weddings and give lavish parties without a second thought – but we haggle with the vegetable vendor for a few rupees. 

Dear Reader – do tell us:

Have you observed the LAW OF TRIVIALITY in action in your organisation...?

Do tell us about your hilarious experiences.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
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Disclaimer:

1. This article is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

This article is a revised version of my blog post LAW OF TRIVIALITY Posted by me Vikram Karve at 6/12/2014 12:49:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/06/law-of-triviality.html  and revised and reposted at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/03/humor-in-uniform-law-of-triviality.html