Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Undercover Boss

My jury is still out when it comes to reality programming. It’s the reality part that I find disturbing, just how real is 38 minutes of programming extracted from 100 hours of recorded footage? Yet I like the message of Undercover Boss, a CEO goes undercover in his/her own organization to work the front line to determine areas of success and areas that need improvement. While I manage to sit through the extended commercial and contrived drama I am moved by the thought of reducing the distance between the white collar and blue collar workers regardless if this undercover job is driven by a renewed moral compass or a marketing ploy.

The issues of accountability are often discussed yet practices rarely reach fruition of change. I wonder if the undercover process will lead to the end. Would this model work in our school systems? Should a Superintendent teach for a week? Work in the cafeteria? Drive a school bus? Okay…well maybe not a school bus.