Seachain an duine a bhíonn ina thost

From Wikipedia:

The Committee Game

Any large organization has day-to-day tension where management desires to make decisions while the managed want their concerns voiced and "fair" decisions made. This tension plays itself out at all types of committee meetings: faculty, stockholders, staff, and milestone meetings just to name a few types.

Game Rules

In these meetings, it is in the best interest of the management and the managed to protect their current positions and resist change. Therefore, it should be noted that beyond (or behind) any stated reason for the committee meeting, the overall objective of meeting participants is to score points for their side by:
Blocking, if at possible, the development of significant decisions, and
Offuscate, diffuse, delay, or somehow make unrecognizable any issue before the members.

It is possible for any number to play, but larger groups from five to 15 members provides the greatest satisfaction for the accomplished player. Generally, playing is an individual sport, but be prepared for spontaneous teams of two or three to form.

Committee Game Strategy

First, slow the proceedings as much as possible. These meetings offer a perfect opportunity to promote yourself. Inject gossip about high-level management or administrators (everyone loves to hear it and they judge it as valuable information). Proudly announce any award or recognition you may have received no matter how trivial. Finally, if there is a lull in the conversation offer day-to-day stories which show how you helped someone.

Second, be suspect of any proposed changes, especially if there is a call for a specific plan of action. Use phrases like "if it already works, why break it," "this is too mechanistic," "why is this structure necessary," and "this has all the trappings of the cult of efficiency."

Third, if a decision seem imminent, defer the decision to another committee. Best of all, defer the decision to a higher-level state or Federal committee. Otherwise, form a sub-committee of just two or three members with yourself as the head of the sub-committee.

Committee Game Score Card

The committee member with the highest point total wins.

For 10 points: In the middle of a group discussion, use the pseudo Robert's Rules of Order phrase "I make a motion" to give an air-of-authority for a somewhat related (hijacked) course of action. 25 bonus points if someone seconds your motion. Zero points if the correct form "I move..." is used to solidify a consensus.

For 5 points: Interrupt the current speaker in mid-sentence, inject a quip, and get a laugh. 10 bonus points if the speaker continues the train of thought, but subsequently distracted with a second quip.

For 25 points: Use a metaphor from the previous speaker as the basis for a new (hijacked) direction in the conversation.

For 15 points: Bring up a decision passed earlier for renewed discussion. Ten bonus points if the group continues the renewed discussion.

For 3 points: If none are present, criticize administration. Explain how their lack of vision has led to sorry current state of affairs.

For 4 points: Criticize any service branch of the organization for inefficiency. Five bonus points if you mention the janitoral service or the IT department.

For 0 points: Question the morality of a discussion topic. 50 bonus points if the group agrees there is a moral problem.

For 25 points: Ask the group if there is a possible conflict-of-interest among the individuals being considered.

For 15 points: Demand to bring others in as participants into the group discussion.

For 10 points: Move that the meeting go into executive session.

For 50 points: Phrase a motion so that those opposed to it on a previous vote, vote in favor of the motion this time.

For 100 points: Have the opposition request adjournment.