Question: What Texas town lends its name to a paradox referring to a breakdown in group communication?
Answer: Abilene. Introduced by management expert Jerry B. Harvey in 1974, the Abilene paradox refers to a situation where a group of people collectively make a decision that is counter to the desires of the individuals within that group.
To explain the concept, Harvey shared a personal story in which one family member suggested driving 50 miles to Abilene for dinner. Although no one else wanted to, everyone agreed because he or she assumed the others did.
