Bit reductive to claim that he only cycled through some employees.

Don't watch the practice field! Raise your hands to piss!

Psst, Pioli, you fat ****. Your team still sucks.

Nope. That's not how it works. Watch, Reggie McKenzie will bring absolutely zero personnel from the Packers to run the Raiders. That's how real GMs do it. They work with people they're not familiar or comfortable with, because that's just how awesome they are.

I've bailed DaFace out of jail so often that there's no way he goes state witness on me.

auto correct Pioli to Who will pick up the gum wrappers?

Oh, you've gone and done it now.

You know what, having worked in management at multiple organizations, when you bring in change, you scare certain people, because all of a sudden their gravy train is over. So if you are sitting there paranoid about getting caught doing something wrong, that probably means you're not focusing on doing your job right, which means I'm not going to shed a tear if the Chiefs can you.

I remember a story in the book War Room where Pioli had just taken over and had the scouts together in a meeting room and they were going over players and he kept hearing two scouts in the back snickering. He finally went over and asked them what was so funny, and one of the scouts turns his laptop around and shows him some funny online video he was showing the other guy. You better bet that those guys got canned and the internet probably got locked down after that...

Could you imagine Karen Kornacki asking Pioli during a press conference: "Scott, who will pick up the gum wrappers from now on in the building? You yelled at the staff so close to Christmas. Think about the children."

This is the Kansas City Star's version of the epic (ok, damnit... how do you spell ek-spoe-zay) :D

expose'

I find it funny that a journalist would waste his time on this sort of thing, and I find it even more funny that those few of you who read the article post the negative quotes and comments for the others to read, but leave out the positive or indifferent stuff that just as many people said.

For every negative quote in the article there's another one from somebody saying it's no big deal and it doesn't bother them. Both from people who are still there and those who aren't. One even talked about how the same fears and feelings were evident when Peterson took over years ago.

New management took over. Some people were let go, and some people weren't. It happens everywhere with business, large and small.

The candy wrapper thing is nothing, but you guys are acting like Pioli is the devil because of it. I've seen that example of proving the "attention to detail" point in lots of business management books and I've heard it used at business conferences as well. It's supposed to illustrate how an entire team of people work together to ensure that every small detail is handled within an organization. The point is that if so many people are walking by a piece of trash in their work place and nobody ever picks it up, what other "trash" are they seeing and doing nothing about? It's a simple concept and was most likely used to spark the conversation in the meeting.

This whole thing is being blown way out of proportion.

Thank you.

sorry expose' I think.

Yeah, you guys are right. Pioli has this thing on lock. /DMC at #36 overall

Yep.

BREAKING NEWS : People who've recently lost their jobs are pissed off.

Yes he does. /Justin Houston at #70 overall.

Jump the shark. Idiots or Chiefs followers.

Now you're gettin' fancy.

Pioli shouldn't be fired - he should be prosecuted.

Or the draftubators that have failed for 4 years now.

Matt Cassel was the candy bar wrapper.

That explains his poor QB play.

Well, I am a KU fan. Gotta hold up the higher standard. :evil:

Holy shit!!!! I think you're on to something.

You're taking too simplistic of an approach to this. When Babb started this article, there was at least one key player with a job (Haley).

Facts or STFU?

Not hindsight.

Working for a micro manager sucks ass.

Anyway, what's funny to me is holding so many people to account, and the appearance that you don't hold your own actions/decisions to that standard.

Open your blinds during practice? Fired. Trade and sign Cassel to participate in these practices? Well done!

You first if so dedicated. If not die for us. Bedsides STFU. Not your field, idiot thought, or Just FU.

F'n Beakers. I bet you hold your pinky up when you take a drink.

(Wait, was that a filter infraction?)

It's going to keep me up all night knowing that Pioli fired people responsible for all those superbowl wins the past couple decades. THE NERVE!

The warm, friendly, cuddly work environment, with an attitude of "just do your best" and "good enough" hasn't been very successful for the last 30+ years.

I have no problem with giving "personal accountability" and "attention to detail" a try.

This is another topic in the article I think is being blown out of proportion.

I'm going to guess that many of the people that work at Arrowhead are Chiefs fans, like myself. I'm also going to state the fact that if I were working at Arrowhead, and my beloved Chiefers were practicing right outside my window, I probably wouldn't be getting near as much work done as I would be if I couldn't see them and watch them.

If I'm running a business of any kind and I see this sort of distraction I'm going to do something about it. It's called a business decision, and I wouldn't be surprised if they could present data to backup the fact that general production went up when this distraction was removed.

It's just like blocking Facebook, Chiefsplanet, etc. on company networks. It's a distraction that costs an organization money because of lack of production. It's my opinion that this sort of thing has a lot more to do with what's going on than conspiracy.

I know! Can you believe it?

A Kansas City Star writer actually did some investigating and reporting!!!

80-20 split. What a shock.

It's cool, Pi...Scott! Yes, sir. Whatever you say! Go Chiefs!!! Details! Wins! BBQ!!!

The six elephants the room:

1. The Kansas City media has an axe to grind with the new regime and their lack of access to information. Hostility towards Pioli is a direct result of that.

2. Employees from the previous regime who've lost jobs ALSO have an axe to grind. Others, still on the payroll and also unhappy with the new direction of the organization, are uncomfortable having to abandon their comfort zones (established by previous regimes).

3. Fans also have an axe to grind with the level of secrecy this organization has created over the last 3 years. The explosion of information through every kind of media imaginable doesn't dovetail with these rigid policies about keeping everything quiet.

4. Fans don't care how an organization is run so long as it produces results. If this organization were winning there'd be no indignation about this micro-management.

5. Scott Pioli and Mark Donovan can only do what Clark Hunt allows them to. You can't, on the one hand, burn the two of them at the stake and simultaneously give our illustrious owner a pass. He's ultimately responsible.

6. Every GM has to run the organization how he sees fit. If you can be relieved of your job, you want it to be on your own terms. Be that secrecy, an open-door policy or indifference. Hunt can't hire the man to do a job then have his hand in everything he's entrusted to Scott Pioli. If you find that his "way" isn't serving your franchise...can him and find someone else. But the man has to have some level of freedom to build it...his "way".

But he was/is Bat S**t crazy, looked and no doubt smelled like a hobo, and was probably was seeing black helicopters.

Indeed. And reporters must raise their hands to piss and employees are locked out of certain parts of Arrowhead to prevent further distractions.

I'll say this: think about how poorly this team would have performed if Pioli hadn't initiated these changes? Scary. Thank goodness that comfy-cozy environment left and he instilled one laden with playoff wins.

Deez is really pounding the fire Pioli drum.

OK really... do you believe the Chiefs are bugging employees personal cell phones?

Pretty sure that's against the law.

Nope. But I think the priorities are way, way, way out of whack.

And this team won't win anything of substance (read: SB) while an incompetent **** like Pioli is here.

Executives cannot watch practice, but Cassel leads and participates in them. Justify this.

They're bugging yours.

The GM who hired Haley cultivated an environment in which the latter spent, apparently, a decent amount of time worrying about what he could or could not say.

But he was the "face of the franchise" according to the same overhyped piece of NE shit. Good to know that the "Exec. of the Decade" wasn't wasting everyone's money on Sundays.

I know for a fact they bug and trace all company issued cell phones.

I have a sneaking suspicion that candy wrapper belonged to Brian Waters.

The scary part of this is that Dr. Evil has really just begun his reign of terror.

I was very hopeful that, once we got the bathrooms all locked up nice and tight, we would start winning some playoff games. I guess we need more accountability, though. It's time to implanting RFID Chips in the damn employees, the media guys, and their families. Babb, you're first.

FAX

throw a 666 on their heads too for identification purposes.

Well, I can't. I'm not a Cassel guy. (don't know who is, at this point) But you've got this article all wrong.

The article itself is a silly bunch of trash. It seems interesting, but in the end... it's really nothing. (Kinda like Cassel himself.)

I put that last part in there just for you.

Those rumors that Haley started Palko just to **** up the image and product of the Patriot Way KC Chiefs?

That's actually pretty funny now. LMAO

I could totally see myself doing the same ****ing thing in his position.

Apparently, that office-bugging stuff happens more often than people realize (at least, more often than I realized). I have a very close friend who was the accountant at a prestigious physician's office here in Nashville. The doctors changed office managers and one day he found a bug under his desk. He traced it back to the company that sold it and the guy told him those little wireless bug deals were selling like hos at International House Of Hos on Ho Day.

It's not easy being normal these days.

FAX

The up and down teams each year...whatever...I can deal with it.

But this tone deaf organization with its head so far up its ass is absolutely maddening.

LMAO

Fair enough.

That's a pretty wacky fact, man.

FAX

Scott Pioli is Joey Morolto in The Firm

Pretty simple. If you're running a multi-million dollar corporation and your top executives are watching football practice instead of doing their job, wouldn't you want to make a change to remove that distraction?

Seriously though... I wonder if any of this stuff helped us win the tampering case against the Lions regarding Jarrad Page.

No, it's ****ing stupid.

If you ran that same company and the person in the single most important position in said company was making it less profitable, in terms of dollars and overall success, wouldn't you want to make a change to remove that unsightly piece of mother****ing QBing shit?

We love you, Scott. Happy reading. NE clearly misses you. Trey Hillman-lite.

Actually, since you're into up-to-the-minute business ideas and conferences and all that jazz, I think it's worth pointing out the currently accepted wisdom is that you're better off not blocking access to such websites. Google it if you want. I work for a major international law firm, who aren't the most progressive types traditionally, and they unblocked facebook and youtube about 18 months ago. It's happening a lot.

Let people have their blinds the way they want them and let them access the internet. You'll have a much happier staff. Underperformers get fired.

How hard can that be? You're just pissing off the productive employees by treating them like children.

My employer opened everything up about that time as well, and it's a lot better for us. Some people prefer fear and intimidation though.

How much money is spent on coffee?

Boy I'd hate to work in a place like that.
Posted via Mobile Device

And in the process, you upset all those that can produce output with the blinds up, who are probably the people you want to keep.

Remove underperformers when they underperform. Whether they were reading CP or watching practice or fingering their bumholes, who gives a shit?

Yeah, the problem with micro-managing is that you get too caught up in minutia and lose sight of the overall direction. Your efforts at leadership become comical.

As a business leader, you're far better off managing "results" (or the lack, thereof) and staying the hell away from trying to herd cats. If someone is spending so much time on the internet that it's adversely affecting their work product or performance metric, find somebody who has a different set of priorities or who can manage themselves better. You get big bucks knowing who to hire and who to fire ... and when ... not for being a babysitter.

That's how I see it, anyhow.

FAX

This must be why Arrowhead is using the extra cheap see-through toilet paper.

I, for one, support this change. **** Websense. Trust me to do my job. I'll do it.

This is steering us in a different direction, though. If you want to discuss the positive or negative effects of making such moves, and whether or not it actually helps or not, we'd probably agree on a lot of aspects of it.

Here, though, this article and the responses to it are trying to claim that decisions like this are being made to be secretive, or to try and back up conspiracy theories. I just don't buy that.

Also, I know I'm the one who brought up the analogy, but if you want to discuss that subject in this way I'd have to say that online resources are quite different than something going on outside my window.

One of the reasons that unblocking the internet can be better is because they're actually valuable resources for employees to use to find information in an efficient manner. Watching football practice outside your window, though, isn't going to do that for you.

Also, I'm not saying that this IS the reason they closed the blinds. I'm just saying that there are plenty of reasons changes like this could be made that don't have to do with conspiracy. Hell, it could be the players getting distracted because some smokin hot chick works in there or something. Rather than bring attention to her they make everybody close their shit.

It could be anything, and I just don't think it's good ammo to use in articles like this.

Restricting access to certain sites is about more than just productivity.
An employee, left to his/her own devices, could probably get some pretty nasty shit in the wrong places on the Internet.

Cassel's coffee mug says "the best part of waking up is Pioli in my butt!"

I bet Chiefsplanet is blocked at Arrowhead on everyone's computer BUT Pioli and Clarks.

Or maybe it's the other way around...

**** him, Thats a Smed move. Get it right or move out. Step up or out. Or be mecca.

The last regime was secretive and nasty to the media as well... perhaps not to this level but I think they're all that way. When you're throwing millions at coaches, personnel, and facilities you spend millions to protect those investments.

I run my Hog semen extracting facility in much the same manner. I hired a bunch of jerkoffs and crawl their asses if they spill anything.

I'll start by saying that organizational change is really tough. It makes everyone uneasy, especially one where you're trying to get rid of an old regime. You've got a lot of workers who are stuck on old habits. A lot of the people who were uneasy or "turned over" probably deserved to be, if their work was low quality. So there's some very good stuff coming out of this. It's good that Pioli has that kind of attention to detail. From what I've heard, in the scouting process, he is incredibly thorough (Cassel aside, our personnel has largely improved). And it's good that they're running a results-oriented operation. I'm kind of curious if this is a carbon copy of the Pats organization, or if it's the Pats organization on steroids.

But while the change is in the right direction, it's gone way too far. I've never worked at Goldman, but I've never heard of anyone I know that's worked in an organization shrouded in that much secrecy. The fact that they comb over e-mails and phone records is an enormous invasion of privacy and trust, frankly, I don't know how or why anyone would want to work in that environment. Pioli can deliver that kind of a message harshly and sternly without having to resort to this kind of stuff. That's very small of him. That's a really bad thing when your organization has to spy on you because they don't trust you. If you don't trust them, they won't trust you.

And anybody knows that good organizational design is one that encourages collaboration and talking across functions. It seems that the environment is so toxic that they're not only keeping information from the media, they're also keeping information away from each other. That's really, really bad. What makes this worse is that no qualified employee is going to want to work in KC after reading stuff like this. And you'd have to think there's going to be a long line of fed up employees heading for the door. This sounds like a really, really toxic atmosphere.

So you have to take some of this with a grain of salt. A lot of it is just grumbling over a necessary change to increase accountability and there's some merit to the stuff they're doing. But they've pretty clearly taken it to the wrong extreme. You know, you never want to root for a losing season, but it's stories like this that almost make you want to see the team fail only because you know that's the only way we can force a regime change. Sad.

Gumwrapper > Cassel
 

The problems with a myopic management style such as this, and I know about it since I grew up in a household ran much this way and have had a boss or two that played out the same way, are pretty consistent and always eventually borne out: 1. Leadership focuses so much on details that, while important, don't effect the true end product. They simply effect external impressions of the process from others. 2. Those being managed in this manner will eventually find a counter-leader, mutiny, and having distanced themselves in every possible way from leadership have no problem falling on a sword for the cause.
Translation: pioli is A fascist. Stop giving them money... I stopped 2 days ago... Before I read this and now I feel validated...

pioli is a wet fart

which has been more detrimental to the chiefs:

someone not picking up a gum wrapper that pioli hid under a used condom, or Matt Cassel who Pioli hand picked and gave 60 millions dollars?

accountability is waiting for Pioli...in a dark alley, with a baseball bat...his day is coming

"A runaway nun speaks ill of her convent."

I guess it was better when no one held them accountable and the team had people like Frank Ganz, Gunther, and other shit bum coaches running a team that didn't win jack squat.

Firing people is not a fun thing to do but if they are completing all the work now after firing all these other people, maybe the organization became bloated.

Plus Clark Hunt is a money hungry pr*ck!

I think the point posters are missing is that the people fired have Nothing to do with the product on the field. These are business, community relations, pr, stadium operations people...many of them were considered among the best in the NFL...othere teams sent there people to observe and learn from these people to make their teams better.

No matter how much you love the Arrowhead experience on Sunday DO NOT renew your season tickets. That's the only way Clark Hunt will understand. Vote with your feet.

It's not his ego that's the problem, it's his insecurities. Pioli is on his treadmill reading this article and some Lamar era receptionist is going to have hell to pay as a result.

So the sociopath Haley was paranoid? Wow, that is news. Likewise, the man in charge during the spy gate years is suspected of spying. Wow, that is news.

Captain Obvious would be impressed.

Personally, I think this story is a little sensationalized. You had an organization run by one of the nicest, humblest men in sports and while that doesn't mean that a team can't be successful with an owner like that, it does increase the likelihood of employees taking advantage of that affability.

In comes Pioli, who admittedly does seem like a severe micromanager, and the culture shock will be huge. Some people don't like change at all and will bitch and moan. I don't begrudge Pioli at all for showing those people the door. It would take more of his energy trying to convert them. I manage employees. I don't take a my-way-or-the-highway approach, but I do know that the 1-2 employees that are reluctant to adjust to what management wants consume more of my time than all the other people (10) combined.

Protect them from what? Are their egos THAT fragile?