Dilbert cartoon first published on Thursday 26th December 1991

Dilbert//985, first published 35 years ago on Thursday 26th December 1991

Tags

blame budget dilbert the boss empowered decisions employees calculated risks new word

Official transcript

Dilbert stands in front of the Boss's desk and asks, "What did you mean when you said all employees are empowered?"

Dilbert continues, "Does that mean I can control my own budget, make decisions without twelve levels of approval, and take calculated risks on my own?"

The Boss replies, "No, it's just a way to blame employees for not doing the things we tell them not to do."

Dilbert hangs his head and says, "No wonder you needed a new word."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

WHAT DID YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAID ALL EMPLOYEES ARE EMPOWERED?

DOES THAT MEAN I CAN CONTROL MY OWN BUDGET, MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT TWELVE LEVELS OF APPROVAL, AND TAKE CALCULATED RISKS ON MY OWN?

NO, IT'S JUST NO WONDER A WAY TO BLAME YOU NEEDED EMPLOYEES FOR A NEW WORD.

NOT DOING THE THINGS WE TELL THEM NOT TO DO.

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Title: "Empowered Employees"

Summary:

This 'Dilbert' comic strip, originally published in 1991, humorously portrays the consequences of empowering employees. The conversation begins with a boss asking an employee if he is empowered, to which the employee responds that he can control his own budget, make decisions without approval, and take calculated risks on his own.

The boss then asks if he can blame employees for not doing things they tell them not to do, and the employee replies, "No wonder you needed a new word." The comic strip satirizes the idea of empowerment in a corporate setting, highlighting the potential for miscommunication and confusion. The punchline relies on the unexpected twist of the boss seeking to shift responsibility onto the employee, rather than taking ownership of the decision-making process. The comic strip pokes fun at the complexities of workplace dynamics and the challenges of effective communication.

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