Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 29th April 2001

Dilbert//4397, first published 25 years ago on Sunday 29th April 2001

Tags

slump make changes management style paternal new management style we hate employees volunteer nineties kick off kick intern bent over

Official transcript

The boss addressing Wally and Dilbert says, "Our industry is in a slump. We need to make changes."

Pointing to a slide of Asok being handed an ice-cream cone, the boss says, "Our current mangement style could be described as paternal."

Pointing to a slide of a man getting kicked, the boss says, "Our new management style doesn't have a name yet."

Asok, waving his arm, says, "Ooh ooh! I have a suggestion."

Asok continues, "The new management style could be called 'We hate our employees.'"

The boss says, "Not bad."

The boss says, "I need a volunteer to help with the 'Back to the nineties' kick-off."

Asok bends over preparing to be kicked as he asks, "How is this like the nineties?"

The boss, about to kick, says, "Stop wiggling."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

OUR INDUSTRY IS IN A SLUMP. WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES.

OUR CURRENT MANAGEMENT STYLE COULD BE DESCRIBED AS PATERNAL.

OUR NEW MANAGEMENT STYLE DOESN'T HAVE A NAME YET.

!

I HAVE A SUGGESTION.

THE NEW MANAGEMENT STYLE COULD BE CALLED "WE HATE OUR EMPLOYEES.

NOT BAD.

I NEED A VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH OUR "BACK TO THE NINETIES" KICKOFF.

HOW IS THIS LIKE THE NINETIES?

STOP WIGGLING

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Comic Strip Title: "Back to the Nineties"

Summary:

The comic strip, originally published in 2001, features Dilbert, a character known for his sarcastic commentary on corporate culture. In this strip, Dilbert's boss introduces a new management style, which he describes as "paternal." The boss explains that the current style is too informal and that the new approach will be more authoritarian.

The employees are skeptical of the new style, with one asking if it's a joke. Another employee suggests that the new style could be called "We Hate Our Employees." Dilbert, who is clearly unimpressed with the new style, responds by saying that he needs a volunteer to help with the "Back to the Nineties" kick-off.

The final panel shows the boss being dragged away by a group of employees, with one of them saying, "How is this like the nineties?" The comic strip pokes fun at the idea of trying to turn back the clock and restore a more authoritarian management style. It suggests that such an approach is unlikely to be successful and may even be counterproductive.

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