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ANTI STUPIDITY : How Organizations Can Trade Stupidity for Purpose

Alvesson, Mats LU and Cizinsky, Stella (2026)
Abstract

This book explores how functional stupidity – uncritical and unreflective thinking within prescribed, constrained ways – is institutionalized and why we should minimize it in workplaces. How did our organizations become stagnant, and what can be done to revive them? Contemporary societal and organizational noise, extensive bureaucratization, silo thinking, imitation, bullshit talk, and meaningless meetings are destructive to workplaces. This book explains how we got here and shows escape routes through more independent thinking and speaking up. With spotlights on individual and organizational strategies to combat stupidity, various structures and practices to mobilize support are illuminated. A provocative and entertaining read, this... (More)

This book explores how functional stupidity – uncritical and unreflective thinking within prescribed, constrained ways – is institutionalized and why we should minimize it in workplaces. How did our organizations become stagnant, and what can be done to revive them? Contemporary societal and organizational noise, extensive bureaucratization, silo thinking, imitation, bullshit talk, and meaningless meetings are destructive to workplaces. This book explains how we got here and shows escape routes through more independent thinking and speaking up. With spotlights on individual and organizational strategies to combat stupidity, various structures and practices to mobilize support are illuminated. A provocative and entertaining read, this book will be practically useful reading for anyone interested in making organizations more effective.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Book/Report
publication status
published
subject
pages
241 pages
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:105042204985
ISBN
9781040557600
9781041066828
DOI
10.4324/9781003636595
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8eb6a9b4-bb13-496c-a1cd-2bb0af89ed6e
date added to LUP
2026-09-21 15:30:36
date last changed
2026-09-21 15:30:53
@book{8eb6a9b4-bb13-496c-a1cd-2bb0af89ed6e,
  abstract     = {{<p>This book explores how functional stupidity – uncritical and unreflective thinking within prescribed, constrained ways – is institutionalized and why we should minimize it in workplaces. How did our organizations become stagnant, and what can be done to revive them? Contemporary societal and organizational noise, extensive bureaucratization, silo thinking, imitation, bullshit talk, and meaningless meetings are destructive to workplaces. This book explains how we got here and shows escape routes through more independent thinking and speaking up. With spotlights on individual and organizational strategies to combat stupidity, various structures and practices to mobilize support are illuminated. A provocative and entertaining read, this book will be practically useful reading for anyone interested in making organizations more effective.</p>}},
  author       = {{Alvesson, Mats and Cizinsky, Stella}},
  isbn         = {{9781040557600}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  title        = {{ANTI STUPIDITY : How Organizations Can Trade Stupidity for Purpose}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003636595}},
  doi          = {{10.4324/9781003636595}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}