Frauds

Frauds are bad. Everybody knows that, right? It is a breach of security, you are shaken to the bone and you suddenly realize that your processes were not sound at all. Someone took you for a ride. Bad.

But once the mess is cleaned up, the losses written off or the fraudster captured, the effect lingers on for a much longer time.

One of my earlier bosses had experienced this first hand. A fraud happened in the department that he was heading in a finance institution. He was not directly involved but had to take the heat of the entire organization. While not much of the money was recovered, he did a good job of redefining the processes and giving the comfort to the organization that now the things are in a much better shape.

So far so good. He went on to do a good job within the organization; was given larger responsibilities and given a plum job in a new area - the one where I worked. The poor chap still carries monkeys on his back. Will not trust anybody. Will not trust any document. Will not trust anything. Goes through everything with a microscope and talks in a language bordering on accusing people. All the time.

Needless to say, morale dropped. People stopped contributing. Several left. But he probably is not even aware of the effect that this is creating on the team members.

And so, that is why I say, frauds are bad. If they colour your lenses permanently, the whole world will look like a fraud to you.

Any medicines for my ex boss?