Dan Davies, economist, discusses the unaccountability of managerial elite creating terrible business outcomes. Topics include blame shifting to systems, financial markets as measure of accountability, challenges of borrowing large sums of money in businesses, and the shift towards corporate purpose beyond profit.
The 'Unaccountability Machine' shields decision-makers from consequences, fostering irresponsible decision-making practices.
Corporate governance shift towards shareholder value has led to prioritizing debt over long-term investments, raising concerns.
Deep dives
The Unaccountability Machine and Organizational Crises
The podcast delves into the concept of the 'Unaccountability Machine' outlined in the book, exploring why big systems often make detrimental decisions without clear accountability. Examples like the Royal Bank of Scotland and the financial crisis are cited to demonstrate how organizations can become criminogenic. By discussing past management practices and complex organizational growth post-World War II, the episode highlights the challenges faced by modern systems in handling increasing complexity.
Accountability Sink and Decision-Making
The term 'accountability sink' is explained as a mechanism where negative feedback is diverted from decision-makers, ensuring no repercussions for their actions. It is elaborated how organizations create systems to absolve themselves of blame, leading to unchallenged decision-making. The episode discusses real-world examples like customer service lines as symbolic of this avoidance of responsibility, reflecting a broader trend in modern management practices.
The Evolution of Corporate Governance and Accountability
The podcast traces the shift in corporate governance from the managerial class to shareholder value maximization post-1970s, marked by Milton Friedman's influential essay. It explores the impact of leveraging in private equity, highlighting how indebted companies prioritize debt servicing over long-term investments. Proposed solutions like gearing limits and redefining limited liability reflect ongoing debates on corporate accountability and restructuring to address systemic issues.
That's how the public increasingly sees today's managerial elite. Bosses enjoy vast rewards without seeming to be accountable for their decisions - at least the ones that go wrong. The economist (and old friend of Altif) Dan Davies has an answer: they've created what he calls an "unaccountability sink" which is delivering terrible business outcomes. Neil and Jonathan investigate.