Engineer vs. Manager:

[John Benz]

Realizing he was lost, a balloonist dropped down to ask for directions.
"Excuse me, but I'm a little off course" he shouted. "I promised to
meet a friend an hour ago, I don't know where I am."

A man hollered back: "You're in a hot air balloon hovering
approximately 30 feet above the ground. You're at exactly 40 degrees,
22 minutes, and 21 seconds North latitude and 10 degrees, 30 minutes,
and 33 seconds West longitude."

"Amazing," the balloonist replied. "You must be an engineer!"

"I am," he replied, "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically
correct, but I can't use your information. I'm still lost and you
haven't been much help at all. If anything, you've delayed my trip."

The man thought for a moment, then replied: "You must be in management."


"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you're
going. You've risen to your position due to a large quantity of hot
air.

You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect
people beneath you to solve your problems. In fact," he said, "you're
in exactly the same position you were before we met, but somehow it's
now my fault."