Dear Advice Line, I've been working as a computer guru for a large organization for the past eight years. Mega-millions of dollars in revenue, with a mega-bucks budget for IT. The basic management style in place when I arrived eight years ago, was a kind of friendly, caring, good ol' boy structure. We continually worked within the political and strategic fallout that resulted from the entrenched good ol' boys. Dear Advice Line,I’ve been working as a computer guru for a large organization for the past eight years. Mega-millions of dollars in revenue, with a mega-bucks budget for IT. The basic management style in place when I arrived eight years ago, was a kind of friendly, caring, good ol’ boy structure. We continually worked within the political and strategic fallout that resulted from the entrenched good ol’ boys. Some things got done openly, with fairness, and equal consideration. Mostly though, things got done according to the selfish agenda of the good ol’ boys.We had a brief respite – a CEO brought in from the outside who tried to clean things up. He lasted two outstanding years, then accepted a better offer and left. Our new CEO, one of the original good ol’ boys, is one of the worst, or best, depending on how you look at it, practitioners of the good ol’ boy network. He has promoted his buddies into the senior positions, and made his own organization changes. He would specifically note that the changes were being made to replace the changes made by the previous CEO. Even when the mid-level managers would point out the loss in ability, or efficiency, the change was still done. The result of all this has been a complete collapse of morale. The decisions we’re forced to respond to are crazy. Given two options, one that is cost effective and will accomplish the goal, the other obviously too expensive and a poor fit. In almost all cases we choose the the second option. Why? In one case, “Because I like the name of the vendor.” Another time the reason was, “My friend’s son uses this at home.” I’m not joking.And now my request for some advice. In the past, you’ve suggested co-opting a dysfunctional management scenario to try to steer it in a beneficial way. Do you know of a strategy that can be used to weaken if not destroy our good ol’ boy network? – A bull rider from MinnesotaDear Bull …To answer the question you asked at the end, no. It’s worked for everyone involved, it continues to work for everyone involved, and it doesn’t result in the kind of clear malfeasance where being a whistleblower would do you any good (not that being a whistleblower ever does the whistleblower any good). An individual contributor, or even a middle manager has as much chance of derailing the old boys network as you would derailing an oncoming freight train.You have three choices, and they aren’t mutually exclusive:1. Keep your head down and try to avoid running afoul of the old boys network 2. Learn to act as a “courtier,” achieving personal success within the rules of the network while doing your part to curb some of its excesses while still keeping your head down3. Find another opportunity before the wheels come off and you find yourself on the wrong end of the unavoidable layoffs that will come once the current administration’s leadership achieves its inevitable result.– Bob ——– Technology Industry