Many commentators on the human condition use the television and movies as examples of this or that feature of a certain time, or to reinforce that some social tendency is prevalent throughout a certain segment of society.
I usually steer clear of such comparisons because I'm never quite sure if art imitates life, or if it's the other way around.
Both the small and large screen have certainly reported societal tendencies, but they've also started their share as well.
Occasionally though, something comes along that might actually have some value as a report of what's going on in the world and does bear some analysis.
Undercover Boss (CBS) is just such an offering.
Throughout nine episodes, the show has featured C-level executives who disguise themselves (usually by foregoing the razor and ditching the suit) and then go out into their companies to find out what the world is like for the working types.
It's certainly a noble idea for the big boss to find out what's going on in the company, and sometimes it's even slightly humorous, if not a little campy.
I'm also not completely convinced that employees are going to be themselves when the cameras are shooting, even with the thin excuse about documenting an employed worker of some type looking at entry level jobs; especially now that the show has aired and is quite popular.
But this isn't a critique of the show but a look at what the show reveals.
I've noticed some specific things that seem to be common to every case.
The profiled executives have an incredible ignorance of what goes on in their companies.
Now, I don't suggest that the boss of a big company should know the deepest thoughts and needs of each and every employee.
What's amazing though is that they don't seem to know very much at all about the operation of the company for which they are responsible.
What I find even more incredulous is that in each episode, the subject executive explains to his leadership team what he's going to do (no female execs have been profiled yet).
The reaction always seems to be some surprise.
Though not really a revelation, I'm still amazed at how comfortable these people seem to be in their own ignorance.
How can you lead an organization when you don't know what is going on in that organization? The executives invariably find out that the jobs they investigate are harder than they thought.
One of those mildly humorous moments is when the CEO of GSI Commerce gets fired from a job packing boxes.
But that particular moment is representative of another issue; none of these executives seem to see that they have a serious training problem.
Perhaps it's just because of the premise used to explain the cameras, but I doubt it.
Chris McCann, President of 1-800-Flowers discovers that a quota system for one of the companies production line is set without any consultation with the foreman.
That seems to be a recurring theme; companies out of touch with the people who actually do the work, and a complete lack of any method of communication with the experts that make things happen.
In each episode, the boss finds himself in a situation that resulting in being either amazed or appalled at the good or bad actions of a leader.
Why? Don't these companies train people to be leaders and properly manage their people? What I find amazing and appalling is that at the end of the show, when the intrepid executive, now shaved and back in the suit, wraps up the experience, he almost never mentions a need to provide better leadership training for managers.
In fact, in many episodes, the boss completely misses the training issue, whether it be for leaders or just for the poor guy that can't pack boxes fast enough on the first day.
I understand Undercover Boss will return next season.
Will we be treated to more stories of senior executives who appear to be clueless? Hopefully not.
Maybe by next year more executive leaders will have figured out they need to know what's going on in their companies.
I hope so.