Organizational Hypocrisy

HEADNOTE

VIEWPOINT

HEADNOTE

Every agency is two-faced at some point.

"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." Not only have these

words come to symbolize the dysfunctional nature of the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, but they are destined to become the catchphrase for future failures. Katrina exposed what Swedish economics professor Nils Brunsson calls "organizational hypocrisy" at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Homeland security Department.

Organizational hypocrisy exists in every organization. It occurs whenever decisions and actions are inconsistent or conflict with previously stated ideals, values or performance measures.

This inconsistency is not necessarily bad, Brunsson argues. Being hypocritical might be the only way organizations can operate, he says, given the often contradictory demands they face. Some are even forced into institutionalized hypocrisy. For instance, the Federal Aviation Administration must address daily the dueling legal mandates of promoting air travel and keeping its passengers safe and secure. Unfortunately, FAA's actions in meeting both mandates have earned it the Tombstone Agency moniker, because FAA rules to increase safety only seem to emerge after a deadly airplane crash.