[1] : Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)

snafu principle /sna'foo prin'si-pl/ n. from a wwii army acronym for
   `situation normal, all fucked up' "true communication is possible only
   between equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for
   telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth." -- a
   central tenet of discordianism, often invoked by hackers to explain
   why authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and systematically.
   the effect of the snafu principle is a progressive disconnection of
   decision-makers from reality. this lightly adapted version of a fable
   dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly:

  in the beginning was the plan,
  and then the specification;
  and the plan was without form,
  and the specification was void.
  and darkness
  was on the faces of the implementors thereof;
  and they spake unto their leader,
  saying:
  "it is a crock of shit,
  and smells as of a sewer."
  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.
  
   after the subsequent and inevitable disaster, the suits protect
   themselves by saying "i was misinformed", and the implementors are
   demoted or fired. compare conway's law.


see also:
discordianism suit conway's law 

[2] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

snafu principle
     
        /sna'foo prin'si-pl/ wwii army acronym for "situation normal:
        all fucked up" "true communication is possible only between
        equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for
        telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the
        truth." - a central tenet of discordianism, often invoked
        by hackers to explain why authoritarian hierarchies screw up
        so reliably and systematically.  the effect of the snafu
        principle is a progressive disconnection of decision-makers
        from reality.  this lightly adapted version of a fable dating
        back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly:
     
         in the beginning was the plan,
               and then the specification;
         and the plan was without form,
               and the specification was void.
     
         and darkness
               was on the faces of the implementors thereof;
         and they spake unto their leader,
               saying:
         "it is a crock of shit,
               and smells as of a sewer."
     
         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.
     
        after the subsequent disaster, the suits protect themselves
        by saying "i was misinformed", and the implementors are
        demoted or fired.
     
        jargon file
     
     
see also:
discordianism suit jargon file 

Snafu >> S Words
Snafu, definition of term: Snafu
snafu_pag1.html

Principle >> P Words
Principle, definition of term: Principle
principle_pag1.html

Vital Principle >> V Words
Vital Principle, definition of term: Vital Principle
vital+principle_pag1.html

Kiss Principle >> K Words
Kiss Principle, definition of term: Kiss Principle
kiss+principle_pag1.html