Do You Have a Bullshit Job Footprint in your Org?
– A brutally honest 1-minute quiz for franchise & multi-location operators.
A term you won’t hear spoken out loud in most board meetings: Bullshit Jobs and Duct Tapers.
Coined over a decade ago by anthropologist David Graeber, the term refers to roles that exist only to fix problems that shouldn’t exist in the first place. Oh, if you´re not familiar with what Duct Tape is, Wikipedia can tell..
Duct Tapers aren’t bad employees, they just find themselves with a special kind of Bullshit Job, created to patch holes in how information, processes, and accountability flow. They’re solving the same problem for the 12th time this month. Because the root cause was never fixed.
Now, of course no manager sets out to build a team full of fluff… but still they’re out there. Twelve years after David Greaber wrote his book – not much have improved.
Let us shed some light on this with a short quiz, we know it sounds like a stupid click bait, but within the next minute you’ll probably find it enlightening.
Be honest. No judgment. (Unless you’re still emailing PDFs with instructions).
Here we go
Question 1:
When your frontline teams need a checklist or instruction, what happens?
A) They get a push in the App, it’s right there, targeted by role and location.
B) They ask their manager, who prints something from “a folder, somewhere.”
C) You hear, “Wait, what checklist?”
Question 2:
How do you know if brand standards are being followed at all your locations?
A) I see verified checklists and photo proof every day.
B) We send out a reminder email and hope for the best, or John drives 400 miles.
C) We find out when customers complain on Google.
Question 3:
How do you distribute updated SOPs, price lists, or guidelines?
A) Via a structured system with version control, role access and read-tracking.
B) Email. Then maybe WhatsApp. Then we call. Then we cry.
C) We don’t. Some locations still think it’s 2022.
Question 4:
When something goes wrong (e.g., missed promo, uncleaned area), your first thought is:
A) “Let’s check the log for verified tasks.”
B) “Let me call someone and ask who was working.”
C) “Oh god, not again…”
Question 5:
How many people in your org spend time chasing things that should just work?
A) Zero. We’ve automated those routines and made it all easy for staff.
B) Maybe one or two… okay, three.
C) Is this a trick question? That’s half our staff!
Your Score:
Mostly A’s:
You’re a systems thinker and you understand scaling. Your duct tape is in the drawer where it belongs. (or you were not completely honest..)
Mostly B’s:
You’re running a patch-and-hope operation. Some of your team members are officially duct tapers. Time to clean it up.
Mostly C’s:
You’re building an empire of Bullshit Jobs. You don’t need new hires—you need a platform. We should really talk, like yesterday.
You don’t need to keep hiring “workaround specialists.”
What you need is a system that eliminates confusion and makes good people more effective—without the duct tape.
👉 Book a 15-minute walkthrough and see what your org could look like without the nonsense.
Chainformation has done exactly that for business like yours for over 25 years.
Here’s what customers say once the patch jobs disappear:
“Chainformation is an invaluable part of our everyday work. It helps us ensure quality, follow up on routines, and carry out safety checks in a smooth and transparent way — no matter which park we’re in.”
“Even non-technical staff get a clear overview of what’s done, what remains, and if anything needs action. That makes us confident our routines are followed.”
— Sylvia Literska, Funplays Entertainment Centers
“With digital manuals, checklists and statistics, we can be sure our teams follow routines and deliver on our brand standards.”
— Rasa Jonyte, O’learys Group
And It Scales
Whether you have 5 locations or 1500…
“With over 150 locations in several countries, fluent communication is essential. Chainformation helps us reach the right people instantly — with no delays or gaps.”
— Rasa Jonyte, O’Learys Group
We’re Not Just a Tool — We’re Built for Franchising
“We were looking for a partner who truly understands franchising and its operational challenges — not just a tech vendor.”
— Dag Hognerud, CEO, N3zones
“We needed an intelligent platform to guide and educate our organization around our brand concept. Chainformation delivered.”
— Anders Lundblad, Marketing Director, Colorama
Let’s Eliminate the Bullshit Jobs
Your best people didn’t sign up to be duct tapers.
Let’s get them back to doing work that actually moves your brand forward.
👉 Book a 15-min walkthrough
And let’s show you how to scale with clarity and consistency—without the tape.
