Sacred Cows
The following questions may well help you to identify sacred cows or “the sacred cows” in your organization or workplace setting.
Wikipedia defines sacred cow as “The term sacred cow has passed into the English language to mean an object or practice which is considered immune from criticism, especially unreasonably so.[1][2] The phrase is based on a popular understanding of the status of cows as ’sacred’ in some Asian religions.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_cow
Further elaboration yields : ”
Sacred cow
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
In the relgion of Hinduism, the animal called a “cow” is thought to be sacred, or very holy. Most Hindus respect the cow for her gentle nature which represents the main teaching of Hinduism, non-injury (ahimsa). The cow also represents ghee and strength . Hindus do not worship the cow, but the cow is very honored in society, and most Hindus do not eat beef (the meat that come from cows). By honoring this gentle animal (living thing that isn’t a plant) that gives more than it takes, Hindus honor all creatures.
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Elaboration
No sacred cows on farms, Mutambara vows : The Zimbabwe Times
- Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, there is a sacred cow known as Edna Mudzongwe that has occupied a farm in the latest farm invasions. What are you going to do about it? We await your action and commitment to your word Mr. Mutambara. We can hear that cow mooing as we speak, … What if there was another accident and you will all accuse Zanu-PF of not allowing these MDC MPs to use government vehicles to carry out their day to day work. Never mind – Tsvangirai will learn. …
Restoring Soul through Community: sacred cows in American life
- sacred cows in American life. Sometimes I wonder why many (not all) of the very folks opposing government regulatory actions – such as financial markets regulation, or gun control – harshly apply Biblical Law in other arenas and speak …
Obama to Cabinet: Show Me Your Cost Cuts – Political Punch
- “In this effort, there will be no sacred cows, and no pet projects. All across America, families are making hard choices, and it’s time their government did the same.” “We simply cannot afford to perpetuate a system in Washington where politicians …… They want more of the old trickle down Reagan style economics that has proven not to work. Sure , booming deficits are an issue … but this is not normal times . Obama needs to clean up the mess left to him by the GOP ! …
Rep. John Boehner cites cows’ flatulence to defend his sacred …
- Rep. John Boehner uses “cow farts” to denie that carbon emissions affect climate change. … BOEHNER: When it comes to the issue of climate change, George, it’s pretty clear that if we don’t work with other industrialized nations around the world, what’s going to happen is that we’re going to ship millions of American jobs overseas. We have to deal with this in a responsible way. STEPHANOPOULOS: So what is the responsible way? That’s my question. …
The Meaning of Virtue: Modus Operandi of Satan
- Chapter 7: The Abrahamic Covenant ~ The sixth characteristic of Virtue is our part of the Covenant that God made to Abraham and his Descendants: How the Gospel applies to our grand extended family: Work for the Dead and other ordinances. Coming Mar. 15 (tentative) … Zen: “He who would be a man, would be an iconoclast” : Ralph Waldo Emerson – - – So many sacred cows, so many golden calves, just waiting for a barbeque… View my complete profile.
The NAS Panel on Data Availability « Climate Audit
- Since they are convinced of their dogma (or afraid of harming sacred cows of others who may be funding them) they delay so that others, such as our host, might not be able to “muddy the waters” with critical analysis. This is a common bureaucratic practice. … Deans, colleagues, and friends must also decide how to react. Lots more could be said. Anyway, I’m not arguing that this is the proper way for university researchers to conduct their work – only that many have. …
Budget 2009: The waste myth | Coffee House
- Nothing in defence – apart from what the Americans call “homeland security” – is a sacred cow in this economic environment, and I hope the Tories have the guts to discuss this, not be captive to superannuated officers and their pet projects . …. However, right at the start you have to set a budget figure that is affordable and then divide it up. Nothing else is going to work. Will either a Labour or Conservative government do that? That really is a forlorn hope! …
ProgressPolitics » Your Weekly Address – FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY …
- That starts with the painstaking work of examining every program, every entitlement, every dollar of government spending and asking ourselves: Is this program really essential? … In this effort, there will be no sacred cows, and no pet projects. All across America, families are making hard choices, and it’s time their government did the same. That is why I have assembled a team of management, technology, and budget experts to guide us in this work – leaders who will …
- Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, there is a sacred cow known as Edna Mudzongwe that has occupied a farm in the latest farm invasions. What are you going to do about it? We await your action and commitment to your word Mr. Mutambara. We can hear that cow mooing as we speak, … What if there was another accident and you will all accuse Zanu-PF of not allowing these MDC MPs to use government vehicles to carry out their day to day work. Never mind – Tsvangirai will learn. …
- sacred cows in American life. Sometimes I wonder why many (not all) of the very folks opposing government regulatory actions – such as financial markets regulation, or gun control – harshly apply Biblical Law in other arenas and speak …
- “In this effort, there will be no sacred cows, and no pet projects. All across America, families are making hard choices, and it’s time their government did the same.” “We simply cannot afford to perpetuate a system in Washington where politicians …… They want more of the old trickle down Reagan style economics that has proven not to work. Sure , booming deficits are an issue … but this is not normal times . Obama needs to clean up the mess left to him by the GOP ! …
- Rep. John Boehner uses “cow farts” to denie that carbon emissions affect climate change. … BOEHNER: When it comes to the issue of climate change, George, it’s pretty clear that if we don’t work with other industrialized nations around the world, what’s going to happen is that we’re going to ship millions of American jobs overseas. We have to deal with this in a responsible way. STEPHANOPOULOS: So what is the responsible way? That’s my question. …
- Chapter 7: The Abrahamic Covenant ~ The sixth characteristic of Virtue is our part of the Covenant that God made to Abraham and his Descendants: How the Gospel applies to our grand extended family: Work for the Dead and other ordinances. Coming Mar. 15 (tentative) … Zen: “He who would be a man, would be an iconoclast” : Ralph Waldo Emerson – - – So many sacred cows, so many golden calves, just waiting for a barbeque… View my complete profile.
- Since they are convinced of their dogma (or afraid of harming sacred cows of others who may be funding them) they delay so that others, such as our host, might not be able to “muddy the waters” with critical analysis. This is a common bureaucratic practice. … Deans, colleagues, and friends must also decide how to react. Lots more could be said. Anyway, I’m not arguing that this is the proper way for university researchers to conduct their work – only that many have. …
- Nothing in defence – apart from what the Americans call “homeland security” – is a sacred cow in this economic environment, and I hope the Tories have the guts to discuss this, not be captive to superannuated officers and their pet projects . …. However, right at the start you have to set a budget figure that is affordable and then divide it up. Nothing else is going to work. Will either a Labour or Conservative government do that? That really is a forlorn hope! …
- That starts with the painstaking work of examining every program, every entitlement, every dollar of government spending and asking ourselves: Is this program really essential? … In this effort, there will be no sacred cows, and no pet projects. All across America, families are making hard choices, and it’s time their government did the same. That is why I have assembled a team of management, technology, and budget experts to guide us in this work – leaders who will …
In Hinduism, the cow is a symbol wealth, strength, abundance, selfless giving and a full Earthly life.
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It is not known whether the cow was sacred and forbidden in the Hindu diet from ancient Vedic times. However, reverence for cows can be found in all the religion’s major texts.
The cow gives milk and cream, yogurt and cheese, butter and ice cream, ghee and buttermilk. The milk of a cow is believed to refine a person. The ghee (clarified butter) from the milk is used in ceremonies and in preparing religious food. Cow dung is used as fertilizer, as a fuel and as a disinfectant in homes. Modern science states that the smoke from cow dung is a powerful disinfectant and is good against pollution. The cow’s urine is also used for religious ceremonies as well as for medical reasons.”
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_cow
It is best to start off by identifying the “cows”, but at the moment don’t rush headlong into trying to herd the cows , chase them away or even deprive them of food , nutrition ( cash salary). For example the ritual of going through “junk mail “ or “spam” was one person’s self acknowledged sacred cow
A procedural list for sacred cows
1) List any systems , procedures. policies or habits that are outdated and that can be changed
note - the worst organizations often have the best procedures and procedure manuals. They have little else to do. The prosperous , upgoing companies are often on the fly “doing work”. They have no time to revamp systems. There is productive work to do. Yet their systems are often hodge podge and ramshackle -leaving new employees confused. Some “management type: often has to take them down the right of inconsistencies and simply tell them ” It makes no sense but this is how its done”.
2) What are the aspects of the jobs that you like the least , that are seen as “a drag” or “drags” and wear you and other employees or seem like ‘busywork”
3)Which of any of the sacred cows are policies and procedures inherited from predecessors or idiot former managers ( some of which may be ceo’s at present)
4) Sacred cows which come courtesy of another department but can never be challenged due to “turf” and “control “ issues. You would think that you are working for different firms or at the least are on another planet. What a bunch of stupidiyt.
5) If you can visualize yourself going through a typical day , week, month or even year is there a list of routines at the office. Mail comes in such a time , person c takes it from desk to desk. It can never be done any other way or panic sets in . Sounds familiar. Why not break these routines – at least for fun
If you think if a comedy group – second city , Saturday night live - were to attend most businesses and organizations they would have more fodder for material than they could handle in a lifetime – all with these sacred cows