The Conspiracy of Yes

I have theory, and I call it "The Conspiracy of Yes". I use it when trying to explain the inertia that happens in (our) business when the relationship - usually between agency and client - becomes an end in itself. Like this:

Client Manager: Can you do a campaign for me? I need it in two weeks to take to my boss.
Agency Manager: It will be tough but we'll do it for you.
Agency Manager to Agency Team: We simply have to do it. And we could do some great work.
Agency Team: OK. What's the brief?
Agency Manager: Project X
Agency Team: What about Project X?
Agency Manager: We need to do some work for it.
Agency Team: What work?
Agency Manager: Some ideas.
Agency Team: On what?
Agency Manager: Project X
Agency Team: This is useless!
(ok, you get the picture now)

Exasperated, the Agency Team start working.

Two weeks later work is shared with the Client Manager. The Agency Team have worked flat out for two weeks. After the meeting the Client Manager praises the agency, particularly the Agency Manager for getting so much good work out in such a short space of time.

The Client Manager then takes the work to their boss, subtling boasting how they managed to get all this work out of the agency in two weeks from start to finish but, though good, it isn't quite right.

The Client Manager's Boss's assessment of the situation is as follows: Well done Client Manager. You have worked the agency hard, and got all this work out of them AND had the smarts to realise that it isn't quite right. Good for you.

The Client Manager happily scurries off to debrief the Agency Manager.

Client Manager: The Boss really appreciated all the hard work and the ideas you delivered, but he thinks it isn't quite right. We need some more. You have two weeks.

And so on.

The objective of all this activity gets lost. There is a good chance that nothing will get made either. The Agency Manager and Client Manager fall into this rythmn that shows lots of industry but little else. Unless there are big changes at either the client company or the agency, this cycle could go on for a long time. Occasionally, something will be made, but it will be so safe as to be unnoticed. But by now, the Client Manager and Agency Manager recognise, even if only subconciously, that this way of working keeps everything ticking over just nicely thank you, and them safely in their jobs for the foreseeable future.