"'Referring the matter to a committee' can be a device for diluting authority, diffusing responsibility and delaying decisions"
- Antony Jay
About this Quote
This quote by Antony Jay suggests that referring a matter to a committee can be utilized as a way to prevent taking responsibility for a decision. By entrusting the decision to a committee, the authority to decide is watered down, as the committee must come to a consensus. This can lead to a hold-up in making a decision, as the committee needs to discuss the matter and pertain to an arrangement. Additionally, the duty for the choice is diffused, as the committee is collectively responsible for the outcome. This can be beneficial in some cases, as it permits a more comprehensive discussion of the matter, but it can likewise be used as a method to avoid taking obligation for a choice.
"In the last analysis, the individual person is responsible for living his own life and for "finding himself." If he persists in shifting his responsibility to somebody else, he fails to find out the meaning of his own existence"
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