Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 25th April 1993

Dilbert//1471, first published 33 years ago on Sunday 25th April 1993

Tags

dilbert the boss statistics productivity computers software program conclusion produced impressive crashed decline responsible scapegoat

Official transcript

Dilbert stands across from the Boss's desk and says, "Government statistics show that office productivity went DOWN as computers became widely used."

Dilbert continues, "But I didn't believe it."

Dilbert says, "So I wrote a little software program to test that conclusion."

Dilbert continues, "It only tood a month, but it produced some impressive data."

Dilbert continues, "In fact, it was so impressive it took a week to figure out how to print it."

Dilbert continues, "But before I could print, my computer crashed and I didn't have backup copies."

Dilbert concludes, "So, it seems the government was right; computers are to blame for the decline in productivity."

The Boss asks, "Do you think the employees could be partly responsible?"

Dilbert replies, "Sure, find a scapegoat."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

GOVERNMENT STATISTICS SHOW THAT OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY WENT DOWN AS COMPUTERS BECAME WIDELY USED BUT I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.

SO I WROTE A LITTLE SOFTWARE PROGRAM TO TEST THAT CONCLUSION IT ONLY TOOK A MONTH, BUT IT PRODUCED SOME IMPRESSIVE DATA.

IN FACT, IT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE IT TOOK A WEEK TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PRINT IT.

BUT BEFORE I COULD PRINT, MY COMPUTER CRASHED AND I DIDN'T HAVE BACKUP COPIES.

50, IT SEEMS THE GOVERNMENT WAS RIGHT; COMPUTERS ARE TO BLAME FOR THE DECLINE IN PRODUCTIVITY DO YOU THINK THE EMPLOYEES COULD BE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE?

SURE, FIND A SCAPEGOAT.

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Title: "The Productivity Paradox"

Summary:

The comic strip, originally published in 1993, presents a humorous take on the relationship between office productivity and computer usage. The story revolves around a government official who attributes a decline in productivity to the widespread adoption of computers. However, upon further investigation, it is revealed that the real culprit behind the productivity slump is not the computers themselves, but rather the employees' lack of responsibility.

Key Points:

• The government official initially believes that the decrease in productivity is due to the increased use of computers.
• A closer examination of the data reveals that the actual cause of the decline is the employees' failure to take responsibility for their work.
• The comic strip pokes fun at the common misconception that technology is the primary factor in determining productivity.
• The punchline, "Sure, find a scapegoat," highlights the tendency of individuals to blame external factors rather than taking ownership of their actions.

Overall:

The comic strip uses humor to comment on the human tendency to avoid accountability and the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions. It serves as a lighthearted reminder that productivity is ultimately dependent on individual effort and accountability, rather than solely on technology.

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