In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Ian McCarthy about the many faces of bullshit — how it’s different from lies, the harmless and harmful forms it can take, and what organizations can do to measure and mitigate its effects.<br /><br />We discuss:<br /><br />- How McCarthy's background as an engineer, particularly engineering’s focus on authenticity and risk management, have shaped his approach to bullshit<br />- Why reading the seminal essay “On Bullshit” by Harry Frankfurt prompted his curiosity about the role of BS in the corporate world <br />- The many shapes of BS, from pub banter to persuasion tool<br />- What distinguishes BS from lying<br />- BS as a power strategy with career risks<br />- The effect of BS on organizational cultures, and how culture rewards BS<br />- The use of BS in the more visionary and creative stages or parts of an organization<br />- How organizational leaders can counter BS when it is destructive<br />- The place of BS in ESG<br />- How remote work shapes BS in organizations<br /><br />Ian McCarthy is the W.J. VanDusen Professor of Innovation and Operations Management. He came to Simon Fraser University from the University of Warwick, England, where he was a Reader and Head of the Organizational Systems Strategy Unit. He worked for several years as a manufacturing engineer before earning his PhD in operations strategy from the University of Sheffield. His research and teaching focus on operations management, change and innovation management, and social media.