Managers and engineers

from the Guardian, August week 1 1998

A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realises he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below.

He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"

The man below says, "You're in a hot air balloon, hovering 30 feet above this field."

"You must be an engineer" says the balloonist.

"I am" replied the man. "How did you know?"

"Well", says the balloonist,"everything you have told me is technically correct, but it's no use to anyone."

The man below replies "You must be management."

"I am", replies the balloonist. "But how did you know?"

"Well", says the man, "you don't know where you are or where you're going, but you expect me to be able to help. You're in the same position you were before we met, but now it's my fault."