Claudio’s story demonstrates the curious impact of rules. When you set them, some people will look eagerly for a way to take advantage of them. If Viacom told employees, “Order one starter, one main course, and one bottle of wine for two people,” they might order caviar, lobster, and a bottle of champagne. That’s within the rules but very expensive. When you tell people to behave in the company’s best interest, they order Caesar salads, chicken breasts, and a couple of beers. The organization with the policy is not necessarily the one saving money.
