Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 11th July 1999

Dilbert//3739, first published 27 years ago on Sunday 11th July 1999

Tags

budget estimate useful numbers boss hibernation say number budget

Official transcript

Asok the Intern and Dilbert sit at a table. The Boss comes in and says, "I need your budget estimate today."

Asok replies, "We won't have useful numbers until next week."

Dilbert turns and says, "It doesn't work that way, Asok."

Asok says, "No?"

Asok and Dilbert approach the Boss who stares blankly into space. Dilbert explains, "As soon as he asked the question, he went into 'boss hibernation.'"

Dilbert waves his hand in front of his face and says, "He can't see or hear anything until we say a number. Watch."

Dilbert says, "Three million dollars."

The Boss comes to and says, "Uhn!"

The Boss walks away and says, "Three million. Good work."

Dilbert says, "The first time I saw it, I panicked and ended up with a budget of $911."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

I NEED YOUR BUDGET ESTIMATE TODAY.

WE WON'T HAVE USEFUL NUMBERS UNTIL I NEXT WEEK IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY, ASOK.

NO AS SOON AS HE ASKED THE QUESTION, HE WENT INTO "BOSS HIBERNATION." HE CAN'T SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING UNTIL WE SAY A NUMBER.

WATCH THREE MILLION DOLLARS.

UHN!

THREE MILLION.

GOOD WORK THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT, I PANICKED AND ENDED UP WITH A BUDGET OF $911.

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Comic Strip Title: "Boss Hibernation"

Summary:

The comic strip, originally published in 1999, follows the misadventures of Dilbert, a white-collar worker, as he navigates the challenges of his job. In this particular strip, Dilbert is tasked with estimating the budget for a project, but his boss is unhelpful and unresponsive.

Panel-by-Panel Breakdown:

• Dilbert asks his boss for a budget estimate, but the boss is uninterested and tells him to come back next week.
• Dilbert tries to get a more specific answer, but the boss is evasive and tells him to "watch" him.
• The boss then proceeds to take a nap at his desk, leading Dilbert to panic and estimate the budget himself.
• Dilbert comes up with a ridiculous figure of $3 million, which he presents to his boss with confidence.
• The boss wakes up and is surprised by the large budget estimate, but Dilbert's confidence convinces him to accept it.

Themes:

• The comic strip pokes fun at the bureaucratic red tape and lack of accountability that can exist in corporate environments.
• It also highlights the challenges of working with difficult or unresponsive bosses.
• The strip's humor is derived from the absurdity of the situation and the unexpected twist at the end.

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