Management Theory

A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was
lost. She reduced altitude and spotted a man below.

She descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me,
can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet
her an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man below replied, "You're in a hot air balloon
hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground
You're between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude
and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."
"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist.

"I am," replied the man, "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you
told me is technically correct, but I've no idea
what to make of your information, and the fact is
I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help
at all. If anything, you've delayed my trip."

The man below responded, "You must be in Management."


"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you
know?"

"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are
or where you're going. You have risen to where you are due to a large
quantity of hot air. You made a promise, which you've
no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath
you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in
exactly the same position you were in before we met,
but now, somehow, it's my fault."