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Comment by ike2792

8 days ago

In any large organization, there are basically two classes of rules: 1) stupid red tape rules that slow everyone down and 2) really important rules that you can never break ever. Effective people learn which rules fall into which group so they can break the red tape rules and get more stuff done.

That's a rather binary view and I disagree that rules always fall in either category.

Knowing _why_ a rule exists and what it's trying to prevent/achieve is much more valuable in my opinion. Wether or not to follow or bend a rule depends so much on the context.

  • Your argument circles back to the posters point. Knowing which rule you can break at a specific point in time. Why are you being so anal about it?

    • I think it's a worthwhile addition to highlight there is 3) rules which are sometimes red tape and sometimes to be broken, on top of the other 2 categories. It adds on to the original point with the addition of how to universally discover what the categories are rather than prescribe them up front.

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This study seems to be focused on breaking rules imposed on the organization by external entities, not rules the organization created independently to support its own objectives.

Supervisors aligned with an organization's goals likely often view such external rules with contempt. It's not surprising they tolerate or support rule breaking as long as they believe it won't be punished externally.

  • > study seems to be focused on breaking rules imposed on the organization by external entities

    Those rules similarly fall into traffic tickets and murder charges.

I disagree. I think it's more like the rules are there for a reason, but most of them can be broken if there is a good enough reason.