Re: Unenlightened authoritarian managers rarely recognize a crucial reason
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26 May 2024, 02:52
Actually this is a very subtle turn of phrase in English so I see where you are coming from. The way that you have read this is that "having a modicum of dissent" means as you say "having a low tolerance for dissent." And if you read the words literally that is what this would mean. "Modicum" does mean a small amount.
But in the context of this sentence this means something different. It is a contrast. You see the "authoritarian managers" who do not understand democratic workgroups are the types of managers who allow NO dissent. So the democratic workgroups are actually allowing MORE dissent by allowing a "modicum."
So the authoritarian workgroups allow no dissent at all, while the small amount of dissent allowed by democratic workgroups allows for the avoidance of serious conflict and therefore the avoidance of "schisms" which is choice B.