The Admiral Cemetery Conundrum

Martha Stott
Nov 6 · 7 min read

In 1974, management consultant Jerry B. Harvey penned “The Abilene Paradox” to identify the symptoms and dangers of groupthink.

The story described how he was playing dominoes with family in Coleman, Texas, one hot summer day, when his father-in-law suggested driving to Abilene — an hour away — for dinner. The group agreed to go, each one thinking the others want to go, and they spend a miserable four hours…

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Martha Stott

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Martha Stott is a writer and workshop facilitator focusing on workplace issues, personal growth, health, and curiosities.

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