The Process

Imagine this.

Someone must have slandered you because one morning, without having done anything wrong, you are visited in your office by two auditors who inform you that you are suspended from your role as a Project Manager, and there will be an investigation about your actions. The men leave without giving you further information.

As you are invited to the first interview (or interrogation?), you approach the place with eager expectation, hoping to finally learn what you are accused of and to have a chance to defend yourself. However, you can't find the room where the interview is supposed to take place, as the directions are unclear. When you finally locate the room, you are rebuked for being late and asked the first question: whether you are a house painter.

This is how a Project Manager could experience the beginning of Franz Kafka's "Der Prozess". They would plunge into the nightmare that the protagonist, Josef K., endures.

I used the original title on purpose because the English translation ("The Trial") misses the ambiguity of the double meaning – both "trial" and "process."

This simplification aligns with the frequent, commonplace interpretation of the book. This beautiful, complex and extremely dark story is indeed a criticism of bureaucracy and the helplessness of individuals against the faceless power of complex institutions - but not only that!

What fascinates me is the ambiguity between the horror of facing an inscrutable organizational machinery and the desire to find meaning in it – ranging from the will to understand in order to fight and resist, to the passive acceptance of its invincibility, settling for the minimal consolation of believing that, at least, there must be some meaning – even if it remains obscure.

Josef K. is crushed by a process whose goal and meaning he cannot understand.

Today, I am celebrating a great writer, not giving advice about strategy and project management. However, it is fascinating to notice how Kafka, a talented manager in a state insurance office, perfectly describes the main characteristics of dysfunctional processes:

Inefficiency

• The novel highlights the inefficiency of bureaucracy through its endless paperwork, repeated hearings, and the protagonist's constant need to seek out officials without making any progress.
• Many of the tasks and procedures seem pointless, serving no clear purpose other than to perpetuate the system itself.
• The court's processes are marked by constant delays and procrastination, with no sense of urgency to resolve the case. Joseph K.’s attempts to expedite his trial are continually thwarted.

Lack of Transparency

• The legal proceedings and the court's operations are shrouded in mystery. Joseph K. is never informed of the charges against him, nor is he given any clear instructions on how to navigate the system.
• Court officials and their processes are elusive. Important information is withheld, and the reasoning behind decisions is never disclosed.

Unclear Responsibilities

• Court officials often deflect responsibility, and it is unclear who, if anyone, is accountable for the legal proceedings. Responsibilities are dispersed among different officials and departments, leading to a lack of accountability and coherent action.
• The novel portrays the court as arbitrary, where rules are inconsistent, and decisions seem to be made on a whim. There is no logical or predictable pattern to how justice is administered. Joseph K.’s experiences illustrate that the outcomes are not based on evidence but on random and unfathomable factors.

Conclusion

There is no takeaway except my desire to share my admiration for Franz Kafka and invite you to savour his dark, hopeless humour by reading one of his books.

Incidentally, June 3rd, 2004 marks the 100th anniversary of Kafka's death, making it a poignant moment to reflect on his work and its enduring relevance.