Models of Corporate Management Hierarchy

The Three Stooges can teach us many lessons of corporate management styles. Take, for instance, the examples below. I've highlighted some important distinctions of each major category.


Moe:
Visible and perceived leader. Initiator of many ideas. Mostly incompetent except for being the most effective spokesman for the group. Brutal and self-serving, his treatment of subordinates is both harsh and opportunistic. Frustrated by the failure of his many plans, still he values quantity of ideas over quality of ideas.

Larry:
Incapable of making decisions that please his superiors. Vying for the leadership position but ultimately and constantly overruled. When put in charge of subordinates, is usually overly dictatorial to reinforce his position of authority. Ends up taking the blame for the bad plans of his superior, which he then duly passes to his subordinates.

Curly:
Happy-go-lucky subordinate. Content to do the assigned task, however ineptly. Leads mainly by following. Occasional build up of frustrations must be released, but then satisfied to go back to the task at hand. Mainly enjoys going along with the flow with no pressure of leadership or decision making.

Shemp:
Visible and perceived leader but does not share authority well. Only seems effective when in top position, but mostly incompetent. Holds a higher opinion of himself than he ought. Works out well for a while until important decisions are needed and his ideas aren’t used or not valued as highly as he feels they ought to be. Unhappy with subordination and moves on.

Curly Joe:
The Replacement. Never quite as unique as the original. Does not do it the way his predecessors did, but tries valiantly and vainly in order to keep from causing too many problems. Fears leadership and making a mark for himself with originality. Takes a long time to get used to but by that time the shine has worn off and never ends up fitting in properly.