this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2025
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Apparently a page from an internal IBM training manual. Some further attempts at source it

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[–] ruuster13@lemmy.zip 159 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

And when computers make all management decisions, let us not forget that managers told them to do so, lest we forget whom to hold accountable.

[–] Lodespawn@aussie.zone 30 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You know shit only flows downhill right?

[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 105 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think what they meant is nobody in management cares if someone wants to hold them accountable

Bit it's a nice picture, yeah

[–] scathliath@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I don't know, they all sure hate Luigi for some reason.

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 5 points 2 weeks ago

Probably not fans of Nintendo or something

[–] Salvo@aussie.zone 105 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Managers aren’t being held accountable for their management decisions either.

“Oh, I sacked our entire workforce and sold all the company assets, so the figures will look amazing this month.”

“Oh, the figures are down this month, a golden handshake!? Thank you very much.”

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Most industries management fails upward. Definitely true in Pharma.

There are CEOs with a 20 year string of development failures, but they bring "vast experience".

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 4 points 2 weeks ago

It depends, though.

There are cases where parts of a struggling company is worth less than the sum of its parts. At that point, the fiscally prudent option is to sell it off, either in one piece or multiple pieces. There are plenty of cases in American corporate history where the best option is to cut losses and leave a market.

That being said, I'm surprised that private equity is still allowed to be a thing given the massive disparity shown in how a lot of financial disparity in how a lot of private equity companies run their companies against their fiduciary responsibilities to their companies' stockholders and bondholders.

[–] xxce2AAb@feddit.dk 84 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Ah, from back when people still had critical thinking faculties in good working order.

[–] raman_klogius@ani.social 52 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Back when tech is still dominated by hippies and not fascists.

[–] GrabtharsHammer@lemmy.world 55 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 14 points 2 weeks ago

At the time the computers were kinda newfangled and they tolerated some hippies over there in research.

The business part, well, yeah.

[–] frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 29 points 2 weeks ago

That's not how you would describe IBM at any point in its existence.

[–] thinkercharmercoderfarmer@slrpnk.net 26 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

This is as good an excuse as any to break out the ol' IBM corporate songbook

Tech has always been suits at the top, hippies at best an annoying necessity because they know how to actually operate the machine.

[–] frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

"Back in the day", IBM was all suits the entire way up and down the ladder. They were considered the company for 1960/70s button down dress code.

The hippie types were at MIT hacking on DEC machines.

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

IBM in 1979 was the polar opposite of hippie or liberal. You're thinking of later, younger outfits, Pirates of Silicon Valley types. IBM was white shirt, black tie, solidly stuck in their ways.

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[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 60 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Reminds me of Woz’s old saying “Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window.”

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That became easier with phones huh.

[–] lauha@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes, really easy to throw cloud out the window

[–] msage@programming.dev 5 points 2 weeks ago

With clouds it's easy, they are already outside the windows.

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[–] ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 40 points 2 weeks ago

Executives today:

This means if we put AI somewhere in our decision making, we can no longer be held accountable.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 39 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Isn't that exactly why they do use them for management decisions?

[–] InputZero@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yup!

"I'm sorry but your contact is terminated because our management software designated your position as redundant and unnecessary. It wasn't our decision to let you go, but it was our decision to begin using that software and it was our decision to program it to try to fire as many employees as possible, but it's not our decision and therefore we can't be held responsible. Goodbye."

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[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 31 points 2 weeks ago

Since when are managers held accountable? Is this new?

[–] sundray@lemmus.org 22 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I can only assume the very next slide said, "But having a computer make battlefield targeting decisions is A-OK!" /s

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

It's just a little war crimes, it's ok it's ok.

[–] Croquette@sh.itjust.works 19 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

That's the neat thing, you can deny accountability by blaming the computer's decision

[–] InnerScientist@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

A COMPUTER CAN NEVER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

THEREFORE A COMPUTER MUST ~~NEVER~~ MAKE ~~A~~ MANAGEMENT DECISIONs

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[–] kingofras@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago

promptly

Very meta

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Let's be honest though, most managers, maybe ~60% could be replaced by AI. If you want evidence, think of anyone who goes to meetings, and those who go to meetings all day element 90% of meetings, at minimal. Those jobs shouldn't exist. They are what people like Bezos/Musk believe should not exist.

Now, how does one get from being nothing, and never being in meetings to being someone making money... You can't, unless you know someone. AI is an "American Dream" killer

[–] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 2 weeks ago

Well that’s the exact reason these people are so horny for AI.

https://www.wheresyoured.at/the-era-of-the-business-idiot/

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[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

TBF Management can barely make any management decisions either...

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[–] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

That's why board executives and business are so excited about it

[–] Saarth@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

They can finally get rid of McKinsey and blame it on cheaper and faster trendy butthole logo of the month.

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[–] undergroundoverground@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

It's not my fault

~~I was just following orders~~

~~It's just company policy~~

It's just a misstep in the algorithm

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[–] Heikki2@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

As a US citizen, this logic need to be applied to corperations. The C_Os make all the decisions for the company, the Campany should not be held as responsible for the shitty actions of its Board. The Board should be held accountable for the companies actions be required to served by all the C_Os. I say served, I mean fines and prison time ,in all cases, as a fine is paid personally by the person and time is served aslo bu the person.

I know fine are just a temporary for "legal fo .a price" fine should be paid to hut them so Retirement accounts are taken, future earning are taken, income from salary+bonus at time of infraction are taken, and close loops of off shore accounts

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[–] FishFace@piefed.social 11 points 2 weeks ago

This is sad, not humorous

[–] saltnotsugar@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Thou shall not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind.

[–] funkajunk@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Try to stop me.

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[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The computer can't be held accountable, but the programmer and operator can.

I could go on a whole thing about mission rules and command decisions here, but I'm sick of typing for the day.

[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

So when is Musk getting held accountable for making a literal US funded Nazi waifu bot

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[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 weeks ago

A complete one-eighty nowadays..."As a highly paid "business" exec I have no ideas...computer, tell me what to do."

[–] borth@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

But a computer works for "free" so "not being held accountable" is even better!!

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[–] criss_cross@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Sorry can’t hear you as AI brrs over hiring applications and performance reviews

[–] sunbeam60@lemmy.one 5 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

This endless separation into “managers” and “not managers” is so unproductive. Everyone manages something. That’s why you’re employed.

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[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

"No networked computers!" Colonial fleet high command standing orders

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