Word: one-upmanship
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...many companies executives continuously play the game of "one-upmanship," the gentle art of being a jump ahead of colleagues in acquiring everything from better ashtrays to air conditioners. In general, the president and board chairman, who get the best of everything anyway, are rarely involved; the struggle takes place among the vice presidents, and below. A few years ago, a Dallas company set up a new subsidiary with five brand-new vice presidents installed in identical offices. Everything was peaceful until one used his expense account to replace his single-pen set with a two-pen set. Within four...
John R. W. Smail '51, one-time editor of the CRIMSON and recognized founder of "Harvardmanship," has earned a reference in Stephen Potter's new book, "One-Upmanship...