Today's quote

J.A.C.Brown, from Social Psychology of Industry:

If managers' orders were completely obeyed, confusion would result and production and morale would be lowered. In order to achieve the goals of the organisation workers must often violate orders, resort to their own techniques of doing things, and disregard lines of authority. Without this kind of systematic sabotage much work could not be done. This unsolicited sabotage in the form of disobedience and subterfuge is especially necessary to enable large bureaucracies to function effectively.

Found as the header in a delightful discussion of work-to-rule strikes, via Jim Henley.