You are so right that the FIFO approach won't fly in most companies today, but I wish it could because I LOVE it! Personally all this lovey-dovey stuff gets on my nerves. Business is a business, so here's your job and here's what the business needs you to do. If you don't want to do that then kindly refer to the second half of FIFO. I blame Oprah for all this new age junk making its way in the office. I do my job - is it too much to expect everyone else to do theirs?

I'm glad FIFO doesn't exist in our company. Our execs aren't the only ones who can think and they recognize that. It isn't so much about doing the job, but doing the job in the best possible way...and it doesn't sound like FIFO would ever take that into account. I'm lucky, though. I'm in a company where, at least here at the corporate office, giving 110% is pretty much everyone's personal ethic rather than a dictated standard.

I think Susanne's right -- the FIFO style sounds like it would stifle creative thinking. I imagine execs at mid-80s Smith Corona probably followed the FIFO school of management.

"Computers? We make typewriters here, son. FIFO!!"

Susanne - I am curious, is your company publicly traded or privately owned?

I am completely in favour of creative thinking, however there are situations where the most creative idea in the world just isn't the right thing for the overall business and frontline employees don't usually have all the information needed to make that decision. Particularly if the company is responsible to shareholders their needs have to be considered and let's be honest -their needs lean towards the bottom line.

I concede that FIFO should be the final step and not the first in the management approach but I still think it has a place in today's business environment as unpopular as it will probably be for some employees.

Kristen-we are a privately held government contracting firm. When I read Steve's description of FIFO, it made me think that it was the same as "my way or the highway." Certainly our frontline employees who work on military bases don't make corporate business decisions, but we senior managers do have an open door that allows them to say "hey, we think we know a better way." Another thing we have going for us, though, is that our CEO has built trust among employees and solicits input. That way, when decisions are implemented, they don't feel FIFO.

I agree with Kristen in that there is a time and place for FIFO. But that time and place should come as a final step. An open-door policy that allows employees to give insight, opinions and constructive criticism should be first and foremost. However, once ideas and concepts have been weighed against the bottom-line and what the company is trying to accomplish, then the FIFO attitude is acceptable. If all the powers that be have looked at situations with an open mind and with honesty; and the final decision meets the companies’ goals, mission statement and is “the right way to progress,” then the employees should fall in line. If, after all this, an employee (or group of employees) is/are in opposition, the management certainly has the right to exercise FIFO.

My problem with the FIFO style of management is it can lead to a corporate culture in which BOHICA is also a common acronym.

BOHICA, which stands for "bend over, here it comes again," exemplifies a culture in which everyone tends to look up, paying the most attention to whatever the senior leadership wants next, rather than down towards supporting the front line, or out towards serving customers.

Employees in a BOHICA culture tend to avoid responsibility, shy away from risk-taking and demonize (or blindly revere) senior leaders. They also tend to look at the ground when they walk, and often have distracting facial tics and unsightly rashes.

I read all comments and found that FIFO system is still exists but it depends what is your geographical region as in my region FIFO system is the base for an organisation and 99% working in fulfledge but I am luck that some how I am in 1% side in my region organisations don't like to create work hallucination.