Start with a cage containing five apes. Hang a banana on a string in the cage and put stairs under it. Before long an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb toward the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs spray all of the apes with cold water. After a while another ape makes an attempt with the same result - all the apes are sprayed with cold water.
This continues through several more attempts. Pretty soon, when another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes all try to prevent it. Now turn off the cold water. Remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs.
To his horror all of the other apes attack him. After another attempt and attack he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs he will be assaulted. Now remove another of the original five apes and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Again, replace a third original ape with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four apes that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest ape.
After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes all the apes originally sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs. Why not? Because that's the way they've always done it and that's the way it's always been around here.
And that's how company policy begins.
('Fraid I can't remember where I came across this.)
In the beginning was the plan and then the specification and darkness was on the faces of the implementors thereof.
And they spake unto their leader saying:
It is a crock of sh
And the leader took pity on them and spoke to the project leader:
It is a crock of excrement and none may abide the odor thereof.
And the project leader spake unto his section head, saying:
It is a container of excrement and it is very strong, such that none may abide it.
The section head then hurried to his department manager and informed him thus:
It is a vessel of fertilizer and none may abide its strength.
The department manager carried these words to his general manager and spoke unto him saying:
It containeth that which aideth the growth of plants and it is very strong.
And so it was that the general manager rejoiced and delivered the good news unto the Vice President.
It promoteth growth and it is very powerful.
The Vice President rushed to the President's side and joyously exclaimed:
This powerful new software product will promote the growth of the company!
And the President looked upon the product and saw that it was very good.
- From The Jargon File.