Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026

07:36
An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Summary
Failing to remove underperforming leaders erodes organizational standards. The U.S. Army
Area of Science:
- Military History
- Leadership Studies
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- The U.S. Army's leadership standards deteriorated between World War II and the Vietnam War.
- A contrast exists between General George C. Marshall's leadership and that of generals during the Vietnam era.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the decline of high standards and accountability in military command.
- To draw lessons from military leadership failures for business leaders.
Main Methods:
- Historical analysis of military command structures and leadership.
- Comparative study of leadership styles from World War II to contemporary conflicts.
Main Results:
- The Vietnam era saw a decline in honesty and accountability, replaced by deceit and command indiscipline.
- Micromanagement in Vietnam undermined combat effectiveness and leadership development.
- Generals in Iraq and Afghanistan struggled with strategic progress despite battlefield successes.
Conclusions:
- The failure to dismiss underperforming executives negatively impacts organizational culture.
- Lessons from military leadership failures offer critical insights for business leadership.
- Maintaining high standards and accountability is crucial for organizational success.
Related Concept Videos
Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse I
Accountability in nursing is a fundamental principle that underscores the obligation of nurses to take responsibility for their actions and answer for any errors or omissions in patient care. This principle is grounded in the professional, legal, and ethical frameworks that shape nursing practice. For instance, nurses must adhere to all relevant laws, regulations, and practice standards, including guidelines set forth by nursing boards and professional bodies, to ensure their actions comply...
Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse II
Professional accountability in nursing is a multifaceted concept that encompasses professional ethics, legal standards, and employment expectations. This framework ensures that nurses maintain and elevate the quality of care while upholding the values of their profession. It compels them to treat patients, families, and colleagues with respect, compassion, and integrity.
For example, a nurse demonstrating respect and compassion might listen attentively to a patient's concerns, provide comfort...
For example, a nurse demonstrating respect and compassion might listen attentively to a patient's concerns, provide comfort...
Fundamental Attribution Error
According to some social psychologists, people tend to overemphasize internal factors as explanations—or attributions—for the behavior of other people. They tend to assume that the behavior of another person is a trait of that person, and to underestimate the power of the situation on the behavior of others. They tend to fail to recognize when the behavior of another is due to situational variables, and thus to the person’s state. This erroneous assumption is called the fundamental attribution...
Milgram's Obedience to Authority
Obedience to authority is classically demonstrated in a more famous series of social psychology experiments performed by Stanley Milgram. He was a social psychology professor at Yale who was influenced by the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi war criminal. Eichmann’s defense for the atrocities he committed was that he was “just following orders.”
Ethical Standards I
The American Nurses Association (ANA) created and implemented the first nationally accepted Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. The Code of Ethics is a living document regularly updated by the ANA and establishes an ethical standard that is non-negotiable for nurses in all roles and settings.
The Code of Ethics provisions outline the nurse's duty to the patient, the healthcare team, the profession, and society. The Code's fundamental principles include advocacy,...
The Code of Ethics provisions outline the nurse's duty to the patient, the healthcare team, the profession, and society. The Code's fundamental principles include advocacy,...
The Stanford Prison Experiment
The famous and controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues at Stanford University, demonstrated the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts.