June 3, 2009
This week's most pointless research award goes to this gem from Royal Mail and Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University Management School.
With an ever-worsening economic situation, Guru agrees that what the country really needs is academic advice on why you shouldn't base all your tough business decisions on what your Dad says (although there is no mention of not paying attention to your Mum).
The research 'reveals' that over a quarter (27%) of the 600-odd small and medium businesses surveyed are turning to Dad for words of wisdom to ride out the economic crisis.
However, as the good professor is at pains to point out, the cheesy proverbs trotted out by your Dad can be contradictory. Do you follow "look before you leap", or "he who hesitates is lost"? Is it true that "you're never too old to learn", or more that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"?
Some pearls of wisdom are just downright weird. Ever heard "you can milk a cow everyday but only barbeque it once"? Or "don't pay until you see the whites of their eyes"?
Indeed, one in 10 SMEs admitted that the advice they received from family and friends had been poor. Just in case we were in any doubt, the press release concludes: "Turning to one's Dad for business advice is great, so long as it is coupled with a formal source to back it up. Informal sources can't always deliver continued support and practical guidance that many business people require."
Now you know.
Guru's Tweets