Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 12th May 1996

Dilbert//2584, first published thirty years ago on Sunday 12th May 1996

Tags

new vp cost containment first priority reduce expenses office supplies supply cabinet locked butter efficient secreatray naive question dispirited hollow shells product shoddy get supplies like honesty

Official transcript

The Boss, Alice, Dilbert, Asok, Wally and an executive sit at a conference table. The Boss says, "I'd like you all to meet our new vice president in charge of cost containment."

The VP says, "My first priority is to reduce our spiraling expenses for office supplies."

The VP continues, "From now on, your supply cabinet will be locked."

The VP continues, "The only key will be under the control of your bitter and inefficient secretary. Questions?"

Asok raises his hand and says, "I am only an intern so please excuse this naive question . . ."

Asok continues, "I've noticed that the employees are all dispirited hollow shells, management is random and our products are shoddy."

Asok asks, "How are you going to solve that by making it hard to get supplies?"

The VP looks angry. Asok says to Wally, "I thought you said they like honesty."

Wally whispers, "Ask how much he's paid. It shows you care."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO MEET OUR NEW VICE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF COST CONTAINMENT.

MY FIRST PRIORITY IS TO REDUCE OUR SPIRALING EXPENSES FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES FROM NOW ON, YOUR SUPPLY CABINET WILL BE LOCKED.

THE ONLY KEY WILL BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF YOUR BITTER AND INEFFICIENT SECRETARY.

QUESTIONS?

I AM ONLY AN INTERN SO PLEASE EXCUSE THIS NAIVE QUESTION...

I'VE NOTICED THAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE ALL DISPIRITED HOLLOW SHELLS, MANAGEMENT IS RANDOM AND OUR PRODUCTS ARE SHODDY.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SOLVE THAT BY MAKING IT HARD TO GET SUPPLIES?

I THOUGHT YOU SAID THEY LIKE HONESTY.

ASK HOW MUCH HE'S PAID. IT SHOWS YOU CARE.

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Comic Strip Title: "The Quest for Efficiency"

Summary:

The comic strip, originally published in 1996, revolves around a new Vice President's attempt to streamline office supplies. The VP, determined to reduce spiraling expenses, locks the supply cabinet and demands that employees solve the problem themselves.

Key Scenes:

• The VP announces the new policy to the team, emphasizing the need for cost containment.
• An intern expresses his concern about the naive question being asked.
• The employees notice that the supplies are dispirited and lack management, leading to random and shoddy products.
• The VP asks how they plan to solve the problem, and one employee suggests being honest about the care they show for the supplies.
• The VP responds by asking how much they like the supplies and how much they're paid, implying that care is directly related to payment.

Themes:

• The importance of effective management in maintaining quality and efficiency
• The potential consequences of neglecting employee well-being and job satisfaction
• The tension between cost-cutting measures and employee morale

Overall:

The comic strip highlights the challenges of implementing cost-saving measures in a workplace and the need for effective management to maintain quality and employee satisfaction.

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