Functional Stupidity...or why DERP works

CNN Money recently published a post regarding "the benefits of being stupid at work." The article highlights the work of Alvesson and Spicer (Journal of Management Studies, November 2012) as they introduce a "Stupidity-Based Theory of Organizations."   The researchers put forward the idea of "functional stupidity" in the organization.  Looking at their argument through the lenses of cultural communication, power, identity, and structuration, we can easily see why we have functionally stupid organizations.  Within those, functionally stupid individuals tend to do well and are promoted.  In other words DERP!